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FELLOWSHIP IN THE TRINITY

June 15, 2025
Trinity Sunday Peace with Justice Sunday Fathers Day (White or Gold)
At the beginning of John's Gospel, Jesus is depicted as a member of the Trinity. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him. According to the Gospel of Matthew 28:19, we are to baptize "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." 2 Corinthians 13:14 extends the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17 and John 10:30 provide a more in-depth exploration of the unity in these divine relationships. While every analogy of the Trinity has its limitations, the following picture helps illustrate one aspect of our Triune God. Say a family is trapped in a forest fire, so a helicopter team undertakes a rescue. One firefighter flies the helicopter over the smoky blaze to coordinate the operation and gain a broader perspective. A second fireman descends on a rope into the billowing smoke below to track down the family and stand with them. Once he locates the family, he wraps the rope around them, attaching them to himself, and they are lifted together from the blaze into safety. In this rescue operation, the first fireman resembles the Father, who can see the whole field unclouded from above and sovereignly orchestrate the plan. The second fireman resembles the Son, who descends into our world ablaze to find us, the human family, and identifies with us most deeply in the darkness of the grave. The Spirit is like the rope that mediates the presence of the Father to Jesus, even in his distance, and raises Jesus and the human family with him from sin, death, and the grave into the presence of the Father. Of course, like all analogies, this one falls short. The Spirit is a person, not a thing (like the rope). And the Father, Son, and Spirit are not separate individuals but the one God, sharing a divine nature and essence as one being.
by Pastor Donald E. McCallister

Then, on this Father's Day, I believe it is essential to see that God’s intimacy—both within the Blessed Trinity and in his relationship with us—is expressed most powerfully in his fatherhood. Fatherhood is the role, responsibility, and identity of being a father. It involves more than just a biological connection; it includes providing love, guidance, discipline, protection, and support. A father is a leader in the home, like God is to all creation. Fatherhood is about being a role model, a source of strength and wisdom that nurtures, providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support while teaching values worthy of God, even in life's challenges. A disciplined father will listen, protect, correct with love, and celebrate with those whom he fathers. In a broader sense, fatherhood reflects God’s character. Knowing that these are some big shoes to fill, it is essential to understand that no one is fully equipped to do God’s work, whether as a father or mother, without the intervention of God’s Holy Spirit. True fatherhood embodies a profound sense of responsibility and is crucial in shaping the next generation. Consider how our heavenly Father loves us unconditionally, so we need fathers to practice such Godly wisdom. God put the father in charge of the household, so does not God provide a way for our parents, guardians, and caretakers to help guide us as children into the realm of light, love, compassion, and integrity? Certainly!

Finally, acknowledge that while not every earthly father provides ideal experiences, God, the perfect Heavenly Father, remains with you always. Earthly fathers work to give physically, as God offers spiritually, emotionally, and physically. For our fathers today, I urge you to listen. Fatherhood needs to be:

1. Provider. Just as earthly fathers work to provide for their children's physical needs, God provides for our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Jesus spoke about God feeding the birds and clothing the fields, and reminded us that our Heavenly Father cares for us even more (Matthew 6:26-30).

2. Protector. Earthly fathers often strive to protect their children from harm. Similarly, the Bible frequently describes God as a protector, a refuge, and a shield for His people (Psalm 91:1-4).

3. Disciplinarian. A loving earthly father disciplines his children not out of anger, but to teach and guide them. Hebrews 12:5-11 compares this to God’s discipline, which is meant to produce righteousness and maturity in His children.

4. Teacher and Guide. Earthly fathers often take on the role of teaching and guiding their children in life. God also teaches and guides us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the experiences of life. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in God and let Him direct our paths.

5. Source of Love. Fathers, at their best, love their children deeply and unconditionally. God is described as the ultimate source of love. His love is perfect, steadfast, and sacrificial, most clearly demonstrated in the giving of His Son for humanity (John 3:16).

6. Relationship Builder. Healthy earthly fathers seek to build strong relationships with their children. Likewise, God desires a personal relationship with each of His children. He invites us to come close to Him, speak with Him in prayer, and walk with Him daily.

Fathers aim to forge relationships, much like God seeks personal connections through prayer and daily walks. While no earthly father is perfect, they are to reflect God's ideal character, deepening our understanding of His nature and love.

I would leave you with this. Not just for fathers, but all guardians. Do you know where it all starts for any parent, guardian, or caretaker? It all starts with being available! Our heavenly father is always available and without us being available, those whom is fathered or mothers as well, stand little change of success in this fallen world. The same is true with us. We have to be willing to place ourselves in the hands of the Master by faith and allow him to use us to fulfill the sacred trust of being a father. To do so, my friends will always result in what God has in His plan for us to be the best, especially when we each have been parented by one of God’s earthly fathers who knows, trusts, and obeys in His Holy Name! Amen.