Christ Church Jerusalem Christ Church Jerusalem

The celebration of Trinity Sunday gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of God and His saving work. It is so much more than the forgiveness of sin and justification. It also means healing and transformation, enabling us to put away our harmful individualism and self-interest and become the children of God, living with one another in a way that displays that holy life our Father shares with the Son and Spirit.

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17

Amidst some of the highest praise and evident joy in all of his writings, Paul in Romans chapter 8 guides us through Gospel resources in the face of suffering. He posits that our suffering is felt alongside Creation, and that the Holy Spirit Himself knows this suffering well and communicates it on our behalf to the Father.

Readings: John 16:4-15; Romans 8:18-27

The Year of Jubilee is like a great reset for the children of Israel. Every 50 years, at the culmination of 7 cycles of the "Shabbat year," all land reverts back to its earliest family ownership. Debts are cleared, indentured servants are freed, and countless families' connection to their land is reestablished.

Jeremiah relied on this teaching in Torah when he chose to purchase land from his cousin ("redeeming" it, i.e. keeping it in the family) even though everyone expected that land to be conquered soon anyway. Why would Jeremiah waste money on a purchase soon to be rendered fruitless? "For thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land." (Jeremiah 32:15)

The Levites are a unique group within the children of Israel. They are a 13th tribe not allotted any territory and yet chosen to render eternal priestly service on behalf of their brethren. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and other prophets all envision the Levites persisting even into the New Creation and maintaining their unique identity in it. Who are they to us today?

Holiness is not built by good behaviors, but itself characterizes those who obey God's commands. Holiness, then, is not bought with righteous behavior; but without righteous behavior, there is no evidence of holiness, even where there should be. This is what Ezekiel sees and condemns.

The Ascension of our Lord is not an act of abandonment, but of commission. In John's Gospel, we are told that only after Christ's Ascension can we receive His promised Holy Spirit, Who empowers us to live out the calling he gave us. "Just as the Father sent me," Jesus says, "so I am sending you." May we ever seek to find Him present among us in Spirit, until the day we will see Him face to face.

Readings: Acts 1:15-17,21-26; Psalm 68:1-20; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19