The Holy Trinity – B

June 7th, AD 2009

Meadowvale Lutheran Church, Mississauga

Pastor Peter Lisinski

 

“GOD’S PLAN FOR SALVATION”

(Text:  John 2:1-7)

 

An old Irish legend tells of a conversation that took place in heaven as the eternal Son of God – the second person within the Holy Trinity, who became incarnate in Jesus Christ – outlined God’s plan of salvation to the angel Gabriel who was about to visit the Virgin Mary nine months before Jesus’ birth.  “Let me get this straight,” Gabriel replies.  “You’re going to give up your immortal glory, be born in a cattle shed as a human baby, live on earth among mortals who will reject you, torture you, and finally nail you to a cross to die.  Then you’re going to rise from death only to forgive them, come back here and leave it up to them to spread the good news of salvation in all the world?”  “That’s right,” says Jesus.  After a moment of reflection Gabriel asks, “Have you go a Plan B?”  To which Jesus responds, “No, that’s pretty well it” (“The Jasper Commission”, p. 56).

 

We are it, my friends – the Church, you and I, ordinary, everyday people, imperfect human beings; we have been called to announce the promise, teach the purpose, and reflect the presence of God’s salvation in the world.  From age to age, and generation to generation, the Spirit of God has called mere mortals to participate in God’s plan of salvation.  And today four faithful children of God commit themselves to that high and holy calling.  In the confirmation of Caroline Puistonen, Connor McDowell, Jesse Christensen, and Natalie Verschueren, God’s Holy Spirit teaches the church the truth we need to learn, so that we can teach the world the truth of God’s salvation!

 

Baptized on September 3rd, A.D. 1995, our sister in Christ was given the name, Caroline – a name which means, “song of Joy”.

 

In our world, the pursuit of happiness is our highest commitment.  Virtually everything we do – as individuals, as families, as nations – is an attempt to become and remain happy.  And we believe that the best way to achieve happiness is by being self-centred – looking out for number one, doing our own thing, demanding our rights.  And we’ve produced a lot of self-centred people – and we’re producing more and more every day; but we haven’t produced very many happy people.  In such a world the church learns and teaches that happiness cannot be pursued; it is the fruit of a life centred on Jesus Christ; doing God’s thing, looking out for our neighbours, defending the rights of others.  Today, our sister Caroline teaches us the true meaning of joy.

 

Born again of water and the Spirit on May 5th, A.D. 1996, our brother in Christ was given the name, Connor – a name which means, “strong in will and wisdom”.

 

Our world is impressed by strength, and we see plenty of muscle flexing – from the NHL playoffs, to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to nuclear testing in North Korea, to gunning down a doctor during worship, to bullying in the schoolyard.  And there’s no lack of philosophical rhetoric or political propaganda to justify imposing our will on others by force.  In such a world the church learns and teaches the strength of faith in God, and the wisdom of God’s will in our life together;  respect for the opposition, hospitality toward our enemies, patience with those who disagree with us.  Today, our brother Connor teaches us the true meaning of strength.

 

Born from above and by water and God’s word on January 1st, A.D. 1995, our brother in Christ was given the name Jesse – a name which means, “God is our wealth”.

 

We live in a world that believes that money is the measure of our wealth.  “Money makes the world go ‘round,” we say.  If that is true – and I believe it increasingly is – the world is turning in the opposite direction from the one God intends.  In a world that trusts in the God of wealth, the church learns and teaches trust in the wealth of God.  Our wealth is not measured by how rich we are, but by how poor we are; not by how much money we have, but by how much we give away in the name of justice and peace.  Today, our brother Jesse teaches us the true meaning of wealth. 

 

Presented for Holy Baptism on September 10th, A.D. 1995, our sister in Christ was given the name Natalie – a name which means, “child of Christmas”.

 

In our world most people believe in a God who is far removed from life’s joys and sorrows – watching from a distance, as the Bette Midler song sings.  But the Christian church proclaims a message unique among all the world’s religions; God has come into this world in the flesh and blood of a real human being.  God knows what it’s like to be human – not just in theory, but in practice!  And in the person of Jesus Christ God has perfected the art of being human, in and for us all!  The incarnation of God’s eternal Son – whose birth into the material world we celebrate at Christmas – declares all human beings “Children of Christmas”, bothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, called to incarnate God’s image, to make God’s love present in the life and world we share with all God’s children.  Today, our sister Natalie teaches us the true meaning of love.

 

Brothers and sisters; members of this church or another; committed followers of Jesus, casual followers of Jesus, former followers of Jesus, or not-at-all followers of Jesus – whatever you name may be; whatever your name may mean; Today, in the confirmation of Caroline Puistonen, Connor McDowell, Jesse Christensen, and Natalie Verschueren, Jesus Christ invites you – just as he invited Nicodemus in today’s Gospel – to become his partner in God’s plan of salvation.  And he promises you the true joy, strength, wealth and love all people need to live a full and fully human life!