Trinity Sunday (Year A)

In today’s Gospel, St. Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus gave his disciples, the essential Christ-centered principles and practices to make disciples and further manifest the kingdom of God within us and in our midst. Just as Christ dwells in Jesus and Jesus in Christ, so is Christ present in all who believe [Matthew 28:20, John 17:20-21]. Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught and modeled God's kingdom and kingdom living as the supernatural state where Christ reigns in the souls, hearts, minds and lives of mankind here on earth. Jesus assures us that like him, humankind can establish and experience this kingdom living only through the power and work of the Holy Spirit [Luke 4:18-21]. 

In today's Epistle 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, the Apostle Paul, recognized that in Christ, human beings are made new creations. Christ-centered believers see themselves in new and different ways. They actually glimpse and share the ideal, most treasured and most holy spiritual communion with God and each other, which humans knew before the Fall [Genesis 1:28-31]. This new and mysterious life in the Spirit enables believers to leave the old life, dominated by the mind of the flesh behind, and embrace the new life dominated by mind of Christ, which Jesus modeled [2 Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:5, Colossians 1:26-27].

In today’s Gospel reading, the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth gave his disciples the keys making disciples and kingdom lining, just before his ascension. He commissioned them go into all the world and make believers in all nations. He instructed them to baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19]. He told his disciples to teach disciples to observe all that he taught them. Jesus then assured them that he would always be with them [Matthew 28:20].

Using many parables, Jesus taught that the body of Christ and the kingdom of heaven grew from small divine seed ideas, beginning in human consciousness. These Christ-centered, Spirit-based kingdom principles and practices of kingdom living are sown, nourished and flourish within the believing community as individuals, groups, communities, cities and nations embrace the indwelling Christ as Lord and put on the mind and teaching of Jesus Christ [Matthew 5-7]. Jesus assured his disciples that through the power of the Holy Spirit, they would demonstrate even greater signs and works than he did [Luke 4:18-19, John 7:37-39, John 14:12-14}.

Water baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is an outer symbolic act of faith, which is symbolic of Christ's inner spiritual cleansing and purification in truth and grace within human consciousness through the Holy Spirit [John 1:17]. This transformation of the error belief systems of the unregenerate mind of the flesh to the mind of Christ is progressively realized in the believer's consciousness [Romans 8:1-11]. Christ, the image and likeness of God, is gradually discerned and experienced as mankind's true spiritual center of identity, authority, worship, security, fellowship and witness in the believer's life [Genesis 1:27].    

Jesus’ commandments when rightly understood and steadfastly followed align and attune human hearts, minds and desires in surrendered to Christ, the life-giving Spirit, as Lord. Jesus modeled this normal Spirit-based human response to the call of the indwelling Christ, who forever knocks at the door of every human heart [Revelations 3:20]. When believer repent and by faith seek the indwelling and incarnate Christ, as the inner well-spring of life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives will manifest the gifts and fruit of the Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Galatians 5:16 -26].

My sincere prayer is that during this 2008 Season after Pentecost, Christ-centered believers in all nations will re-consider and more full embrace their opportunities and responsibly to make disciple of all people. This involves daily practicing and proclaiming the Christ-centered Spirit-based principle and practices of the Gospel of Christ, which Jesus taught and modeled. It means more deeply understanding and applying the inner spiritual meaning of the sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Trinity, New Birth, Christ-centered Evangelism and the Body of Christ.

I believe we are especially blessed because we are now living during a time in human history, when more disciples are discerning the spiritual kingdom of heaven in our midst and within us. More are seeking the experience of the kingdom of God as their first priority. More Christ-centered believers, in all the world religions are now manifesting the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based kingdom living which Jesus taught, revealed and modeled [Luke 4:14-19, Revelations 21:1-7].

Virtue of the week: Responsibility

Prayer of the week: I am in tune with Christ, the wellspring of life