June 7. 2020 - Trinity Sunday - Color Blind to Color Amazed

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Converting others to Christianity, or a particular view of it, raises a fundamental question about whether diversity is a reality to be celebrated or an obstacle to be overcome. Given the complex history of missionary activity, the meaning of what many now call the Great Commission will continue to be a subject of debate as Christianity confronts a rapidly changing world.

I would not have chosen to explore the hierarchy of religious authority today. A week ago the U,S, government followed our administration's order to move peaceful protesters with tactics used on rioters and looters. The space cleared allowed a photo opportunity for the president to hold up a bible and pose with his cabinet in front of St. John's Episcopal Church the church of presidents.  The administration tells a different story but eyewitness testimony and timing is hard to ignored.

It is true that Jesus said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.", but I believe there was a fundamental misunderstanding of a certain kind of authority that caused this to be recognized as the Great Commission. This misunderstanding led to a Great Omission as well. That omission was to disregard how Jesus led his life as s servant-leader to others, not as a missionary-colonizer as this verse was later understood to promote in the church.

In life we understand power as political power. We talk about God's kingdom and want to make Jesus our king when this is not what he said and taught. If God intended Jesus to be a king that is what he would have been. Instead Jesus was the epitome of compassion and love.

The sermon this Sunday was recorded by Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. She preached that God created all of us our bodies and lives are precious. She preached that George Floyd's death, as an unarned black man lying defenseless in the street, was a crucifixion. She preached how all of us are woven together with each other and our God, the three-in-one Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.

She implored us to reject calls to be colorblind because we won't see the diversity of creation. Rather we should be color amazed.