God bring us into a new life of beauty and goodness in your creation.
Jesus, Redeemer, renew us through your Gospel by teaching us how to be in relation with others.
Holy Spirit, Sustainer, strengthen and guide us in unity.

The concept that we are all one in Christ in this community is demonstrated by the relationship in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The theology of the Trinity is mysterious and confusing. “The first person of the trinity is God the Father, creator, the unoriginated origin, source, Father of the only begotten Son, breathing out the Holy Spirit. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father, receives the divine nature, essence and substance from the Father, consubstantial with the Father, the Word, image and sacrament. Holy Spirit, proceeds, consubstantial with the Father and the Son, breathed out.”

Saint Patrick is said to have explained the Trinity to the Celts by using a shamrock, three individual leaves, yet still one plant. Augustine said the Trinity was best understood as the Lover, the Beloved, and the love which exists between them. Tertullian used the metaphor of the Trinity as a plant, with the Father as the deep root, the Son as the shoot that breaks forth into the world, and the Spirit as the force which spreads beauty and fragrance on the earth. Author, David Cunningham explained the Trinity with the Father represented as underground water, the redeemer as the spring that leads to the source, and the Holy Spirit as the water that we drink. “In some ways the Trinity is the first community, the model for how we are called to connect with one another, without prejudice, without inequality, without competition, and always with perfect love.”

Saint Augustine once told students who studied the doctrine of the Trinity, "Lest you become discouraged, know that when you love, you know more about who God is than you could ever know with your intellect." Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Abide in God’s love by loving one and all. Love your families, love your spouse or partner, love your fellow parishioners, love your neighbor, love those who are different from you, and love those who hate you. Abide in God’s love by caring for the elderly, caring for the orphan, caring for the poor, caring for the sick, and caring for the oppressed. Strive to change the systems that perpetuate negativity, violence, racism, homophobia, and sexism. But most of all continue to draw one another into community through the self-giving love of Jesus Christ.

I am in Puerto Rico this morning with a mission team from this church trying to love some people who have not recovered from a devastating hurricane. We are trying our best to help some folks that have really struggled these past several years. The weather report calls for rain all week. We will build a cement foundation for clean water, repair and seal a roof, teach Vacation Bible School, and bring food and love to individuals who really need some help. Please pray for us.

In the love of the Holy Trinity,

Fr. Duncan