Holy Trustees, Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2017

Trinity Sunday (Year A)

Sunday, June 11, 2017

“Be fruitful and multiply. Populate the earth. I make you trustees of My estate, so care for My creation and rule over the fish of the seas, the birds of the sky, and every creature that roams across the earth.”

  – Genesis 1:28 (The Voice)

Theme: Holy Trustees

Reflection: I love The Voice’s translation of Genesis 1:28. A person could write a book about the nuances in this one verse. We’ve heard these words repeated so often from the King James or New Revised Standard versions that we don’t hear them anymore.

The Voice has a subtler, gentler feel in these brief phrases. Gone are the words “fill,” “dominion” and “subdue.” Instead, the translated words are “populate,” “trustee” and “care.”

First, God directs humans to populate (not fill) the earth. To fill the earth would overtax its resources. Some people say we already have. We live on a plant with about 7.3 billion people. Researchers project at least 9.6 billion in 2050, and 11 billion in 2100. World hunger, resource depletion and climate change are no longer issues we can ignore.

And that leads us to God commissioning humans: “I make you trustees of my estate....” Trustee (n.) refers to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another.

In the NRSV, the humans have “dominion” over the earth and its creatures. The Voice chooses “trustee” – a position of trust and responsibility. God wants us to manage the earth wisely and vigilantly, considering the needs of all living things. We grieve the Creator when another species becomes extinct, when an oil spill or nuclear power plant tragedy ruins an ecosystem, when toxic chemicals leach into the water supply, causing illnesses and deaths.

And I confess my complicity in dominion rather than diligent care for the earth – my desire for convenient products, decisions that create more waste, demand for more of anything that means others have less.  

“…so care for my Creation…” Not just the animals. Not just the Earth. All of Creation – sky, water, land, flora, fauna, and yes, every person on this planet. It is so revealing to me that I can fail a dozen times at taking care of all Creation before I get to work in the morning: from wasting water, tossing recyclables in the garbage, irritating my husband, driving a less-than-efficient vehicle, and so on.

These lessons, along with the Great Commission, Psalm 8, and Paul’s parting words to the Corinthians are a perfect fit for Trinity Sunday, a day when we read about beginnings that are endings, endings that lead to new beginnings, and the three persons of the One God, who exist from everlasting to everlasting with no beginnings or endings.

We live in this world, but are not of it. We have been entrusted this world
from our Creator and from past generations to enjoy it and gift it to future generations. And every decision we make leads us to heal or harm Creation, to be honorable trustees or heartless tenants of a place God called “very good.”

It’s so difficult to act when you feel alone in your choices. What difference does it make that I reduce my carbon footprint, choose recycled products, fix that dripping sink, support environmentally conscientious companies?

I posted Genesis 1:28 over my desk tonight. God didn’t call me to save the earth. I am one, a trustee called to care for Creation. To choose carefully, admit when I fail, and do better tomorrow.

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do."

– Edward Everett Hale

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Trustees are chosen to serve because they have proven their stewardship of the Lord’s estate and diligence to the Lord’s family. What can you do each day to grow into your trustee role? 

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

(Be careful: it’s important to sing all verses of most Trinity-themed songs!)

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, ELW 413 (especially vs. 1 & 4)

Come, Thou Almighty King, ELW 408

Come, Join the Dance of Trinity, ELW 412

Now the Silence, ELW 460 (single verse)

You are Holy, ELW 525 (a beautiful uptempo one-verse hymn that can be sung in canon)

O Trinity, O Blessed Light, ELW 571

We Are All One In Christ, ELW 643 (single verse)

Rise, Shine, You People, ELW 665 (vs. 4)

God, Whose Almighty Word, ELW 673

Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth, ELW 735

Children of God, Third Day

All of Creation, MercyMe

Father, Spirit, Jesus, Casting Crowns

Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Chris Tomlin

Stars, Skillet

LESSONS

Genesis 1:1-2:4a In the Beginning … the first Creation story.

Psalm 8 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

2 Corinthians 13:11-13 A final farewell from Paul to the Corinthians.

Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus commissions the disciples to spread the Gospel.

Summary of the Lessons:  We are created in the image of God and included in the work of God, from beginning of Creation onward. We have been designated as caretakers of all Creation: trustees for our neighbors, God’s people, every living thing and the planet. Jesus came to show us how, and the Spirit encourages us.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 8

L:  Lord, you’re the One we trust to reign in our lives,

C:  Praise your great name – let it echo over the earth!

L:  Little ones in their parents’ arms, discovering worship –

C:  They know they are safe and cherished in this place.

L:  I gaze into the heavens and see your fingerprints,

C:  The moon and the Milky Way leave me in awe;

L:  Seven billion people on one insignificant planet –

C:  Dear Lord, how could you possibly care about me?

L:  Astounding as it seems, God calls us to be family,

C:  Every person honored as a trustee of the earth,

L:  Given a birthright as a steward of everything holy –

C:  Continents and creatures, and every human life.

L:  Lord, you are the One we trust to reign in our lives,

C:  Praise your great name – let it echo over the earth!

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, this Trinity Sunday leaves us full of questions,

C:  Why do you pursue us so relentlessly –

L:  Knowing our tainted words and tattered hearts,

C:  Aware of our corrupt thoughts and contrary spirits?

L:  Lord, why do you keep appearing to us in your glory,

C:  Despite our failure to faithfully care for your creation?

L:  When we desire power over the blessings of peace;

C:  Endlessly talking about the Good News but never sharing it?

L:  And Lord, one last question, if we may dare to ask.

C:  Why do you keep honoring us as your children,

L:  When we fail to honor the diversity of your people,

C:  And we reject your direction to agree and live in peace.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … You’ve appointed us to be good stewards over this world and its resources: land, sky and sea; forests and meadows; and beasts of the field, birds of the air, and fish of the sea. Your glory is present in all Creation, but we take for granted its value and relinquish our role as caregivers. Forgive us, Lord – fill us with your Spirit to stand up, speak out and act to protect and persevere in this work.

Here is Good News: Yes, God is mindful of each person, and cares deeply about us, with us always and forever through the gift of the Spirit. You are part of the masterwork that our Creator blessed and called “very good,” and are always being made new and beautiful through the gift of grace. Forgiven and set free, we are called to continue God’s creative and caregiving ways.

In the name of…

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Creating and Re-creating God … we give you thanks that we can see your loving ways because of the life of Jesus the Christ through the guiding of the Holy Spiri. Continue your work in us, making us good caretakers of this planet and everything living, including the people you love so much. Give us the desire to live into the image of God, in everything we do, everywhere we go, and everyone we meet.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the endless possibilities in this bread, the creative force in this cup.  Send us out, called to continue your work of loving this world, filled with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and in the communion of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  As reflections of our Creator, God forms us,

C:  The selfless love of Christ shapes us,

L:  And the relentless call of Spirit moves us,

C:  To be divine grace and peace in the world.

L:  Go now, sent as Holy Trustees, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4a (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Imagine our earth, just a barren planet, dark and devoid of the perfect conditions of land, water and light to sustain life. A blank canvas ready for the artistry of the Creator, Word and Spirit-Wind to call into being.

1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ² the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

⁶ And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” ⁷ So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. ⁸ God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

⁹ And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. ¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. ¹² The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

¹⁴ And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, ¹⁸ to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

²⁰ And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” ²¹ So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

²⁷ So God created humankind in his image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” ²⁹ God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. ² And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. ³ So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

⁴ These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

(Or from The Voice)

1 In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below. Here’s what happened: ² At first the earth lacked shape and was totally empty, and a dark fog draped over the deep while God’s spirit-wind hovered over the surface of the empty waters. Then there was the voice of God.

God: ³ Let there be light.

And light flashed into being. ⁴ God saw that the light was beautiful and good, and He separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God named the light “day” and the darkness “night.” Evening gave way to morning. That was day one.

God: ⁶ Let there be a vast expanse in the middle of the waters. Let the waters above part from the waters below.

⁷ So God parted the waters and formed this expanse, separating the waters above from the waters below. It happened just as God said. ⁸ And God called the vast expanse “sky.” Evening gave way to morning. That was day two.

God: ⁹ Let the waters below the heavens be collected into one place and congregate into one vast sea, so that dry land may appear.

It happened just as God said. ¹⁰ God called the dry land “earth” and the waters congregated below “seas.” And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good.

God: ¹¹ Earth, sprout green vegetation! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants and all sorts of fruit-bearing trees.

It happened just as God said. ¹² The earth produced vegetation—seed-bearing plants of all varieties and fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. ¹³ Evening gave way to morning. That was day three.

God: ^14-15 Lights, come out! Shine in the vast expanse of heavens’ sky dividing day from night to mark the seasons, days, and years. Lights, warm the earth with your light.

It happened just as God said. ¹⁶ God fashioned the two great lights—the brighter to mark the course of day, the dimmer to mark the course of night—and the Divine needled night with the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in heavens’ sky to cast warm light on the earth, ¹⁸ to rule over the day and night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. ¹⁹ Evening gave way to morning. That was day four.

God: ²⁰ Waters, swarm with fish and sea creatures. Let birds soar high above the earth in the broad expanse of sky.

²¹ So God created huge sea creatures, all the swarm of life in the waters, and every kind and species of flying birds—each able to reproduce its own kind. And God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. ²² And God spoke this blessing over them:

God: Be fruitful and multiply. Let creatures fill the seas. Let birds reproduce and cover the earth.

²³ Evening gave way to morning. That was day five.

God: ²⁴ Earth, generate life! Produce a vast variety of living creatures—domesticated animals, small creeping creatures, and wild animals that roam the earth.

It happened just as God said. ²⁵ God made earth-creatures in a vast variety of species: wild animals, domesticated animals of all sizes, and small creeping creatures, each able to reproduce its own kind. God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good. And God paused.

God: ²⁶ Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity—made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness. And let Us grant them authority over all the earth—the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, the domesticated animals and the small creeping creatures on the earth.

²⁷ So God did just that. He created humanity in His image, created them male and female. ²⁸ Then God blessed them and gave them this directive: “Be fruitful and multiply. Populate the earth. I make you trustees of My estate, so care for My creation and rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that roams across the earth.”

God (to humanity): ²⁹ Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows on the earth and every fruit-bearing tree. They will be your food and nourishment. ³⁰ As for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and every small creeping creature—everything that breathes the breath of life—I have given them every green plant for food.

And it happened just as God said. ³¹ Then God surveyed everything He had made, savoring its beauty and appreciating its goodness. Evening gave way to morning. That was day six.

2 So now you see how the Creator swept into being the spangled heavens, the earth, and all their hosts in six days. ² On the seventh day—with the canvas of the cosmos completed—God paused from His labor and rested. ³ Thus God blessed day seven and made it special—an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day.

⁴ This is the detailed story of the Eternal God’s singular work in creating all that exists.

Second Reflection: Day 6.5 … One Final Addition

Late afternoon on Day Six, God decided to walk among the wonders of Creation. Air still saturated from a cloudburst, the scent of creosote and palo verde in the Sonoran Desert. All the living things created in water, air and on land and ice already were making themselves at home. Waves lapped on shorelines, endless cloud patterns floated overhead. Warm pinks and oranges of sunset began to appear.

Beautiful, the Artist breathed.

Flowering desert willows leaned into the sunlight, and curious coyotes and bobcats wandered nearby. Everything was in balance. Streams flowed through canyons, eagles gazed from cliffside overlooks.

Like a beautiful three-dimensional piece of art, everything would continue for millennium to come. It was perfect. Who would God leave in charge, as other parts of the universe required God’s special touch? God mentally went through the living things. Primates and canines were intelligent creatures. But could they solve problems if needed? Could they develop independent relationships with each other and with the Almighty? God stayed lost in thought for some time, as the sun, just two days old, set on the horizon.

God decided to create one more living thing – slightly different than other animals. A species capable of complex critical thought, with communication skills no other animal had. Human creatures who could decide right and wrong, and have personal relationships with their Creator. Imago Dei – this creature would have some characteristics of the triune God. God understood the challenges that would bring. This human was capable of right OR wrong, being in relationship OR turning away. But God so loved this world and wanted to connect with it.

So the Artist spent hours crafting humans. Not just one, but two, so they could have relationships with each other, as well as Godself. Two, so they could be fruitful and multiply, like the other creatures. Two, so they would experience birth and death – the joys of beginning and ending life. And they could wisely care for everything around them.

Now, Source, Son and Spirit agreed, it was finished. It was everything they had hoped it would be. And the next day, God rested, contemplating the connection they would have forever.

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The Apostle Paul ends his second letter to the church at Corinth with some final instructions, words to God’s people that would sustain them well.

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

¹³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Some more final instructions, this time from Jesus, to his disciples, in Galilee after he had risen from the dead and appeared to the women at the tomb.

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”