Holy Trinity – C

May 30th, AD 2010

Meadowvale Lutheran Church , Mississauga  

Pastor Peter Lisinski

 

“SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL”

 

Four hundred and eighty years ago next month – on June 25th A.D. 1530 to be precise – the sixteenth century supporters of Pastor Martin Luther’s church reform movement formally presented their understanding of the Christian faith to the heads of church and state assembled in the German city of Augsburg.  In the introduction to there hot-off-the-presses “Augsburg Confession” – a document to which all Lutheran pastors are still required to swear allegiance at ordination – those first Lutherans declared their “…earnest desire to unite in agreement on one Christian truth, and live together in one Christian church, under one Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

From the very beginning, our Lutheran Church – indeed from the very beginning of Christianity – committed followers of Jesus Christ have been deeply concerned about the spiritual condition of the church, and anxious about whether we would survive all of our internal differences of opinion about the Gospel, and the world’s external obstacles to the Gospel long enough to fulfill our God-Given mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Today, the same questions about the church’s spiritual condition, survival and mission are no less urgent.  And to the committed followers of Jesus Christ gathered in worship today – here at Meadowvale Lutheran, as well as sanctuaries all around our city, province and nation – the Augsburg Confession of our Lutheran heritage confidently promises:  “One holy Christian church be and remain forever”!

 

The church of Jesus Christ is here to stay!  We have his promise of that.  But the form of the church and the methods we may use in our mission continue to evolve.  As I’ve said the last two Sundays – and say again today – God’s Holy Spirit is already renewing our faith and mission – though not necessarily according to our expectations or preferences; not necessarily in a style or structure familiar to us.  And today, in our celebration of Confirmation, we see four clear signs of renewal the Christian church perpetually needs, and God’s Holy Spirit perpetually fulfills!

 

Alexandra Christensen was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit on Palm Sunday, March 31st, A.D. 1996 .  Her name means, “Helper of Humankind”. Today, in the affirmation of her baptism, Alexandra reminds all God’s people of our holy vocation to care for all of God’s people of our holy vocation to care for all of God’s creation, primarily human beings created in God’s image – especially the poorest and weakest of God’s beloved children.

 

Brennan Froud was baptized in the name of the one God we know in three persons on Mother’s Day, May 12th A.D. 1996 .  The meaning of his name varies from one culture to another, but two are especially compelling. The first associates the name ‘Brennan’ with the raven – the very bird Jesus singles out as a worthy example of steadfast faith in God (Luke 12:24 ).  The other meaning identifies Brennan as one who comes “from the fiery mountain”.  Reminds me of Moses at the burning bush on Mount Sinai , commissioned to free God’s chosen people from slavery in Egypt !

 

Jonathan Lildhar was baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity on June 22nd, the Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, A.D. 1997.  His name means “The Gift of the Lord”.  The eight letters that spell out his name correspond to the eight sides of the Christian baptismal font, signifying the sacramental power of water and the divine word, in which God gives his children the gift of new life and the promise of eternal life in the new creation established by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

 

Michael Garcia-Ortiz was baptized in the name of the one triune God in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – thus beginning his spiritual pilgrimage within the Mormon faith community of his late mother, Marianne.  His name means :God-like”, reminding God’s people of our holy vocation to be like God – to reflect the love of the divine community of the three distinct persons in whose image we are created in the human community of all God’s unique children with whom God calls us to live as sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, now and forever.

 

Care and compassion for God’s suffering humanity; burning zeal for the liberation of God’s oppressed humanity; thanksgiving for God’s gift of our redeemed humanity reflecting God’s love for all humanity.  These are four signs of the spiritual renewal God promised the church at their baptisms, and confirms in Alexandra, Brennan, Jonathan and Michael today, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.