Whom Shall I Send - Isaiah 6 - John 3 - Trinity B

Whom Shall I Send?

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon John 3:1-17, Isaiah 6: 1-8, Romans 8:12-17

Happy Holy Trinity Sunday!

We steer from the Easter season into the season after Pentecost with great discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus.  Nicodemus questions the idea that one can be “re-born,” and Jesus’ s response is a call to witness the Spirit of God. 

The spirit is like the wind - that it goes where it chooses. One may hear it but from where it came and where it goes is a mystery. 

To be “re-born” is to allow and to acknowledge the living sacred mystery that binds us as children - that is to witness - To witness the awesome mystery and the Spirit working. 

When we do, we see beyond the traps of brokenness and deceptions that divide.

Question for us here is if we are witnesses of this, what do we do with this witness?

God calls upon us not necessarily to be pastors, nuns and apostles (although some are), but God calls upon us children to be followers of the way - the way of love, compassion, empathy, and care. 

The dreamer described in Isaiah 6 worships, asks for contrition, receives atonement, and offers service to the voice of God. 

In our broken world that spews destructive division with lies and distortions, we can find these in the words of Jesus, the comfort of God and the presence of the Spirit that breathes with us today. 

We can witness this in our breath, our heart-felt hopes and dreams. We can witness through the command to love our neighbors. 

Romans 8 tells us we bear witness of the Spirit through love of God’s children - without exception and beyond “thoughts and prayers” because we are all children of God - heirs to that love.

That means, as we read in the 1 John epistle during Easter, we bear witness also through deeds that lift the best of us and deeds that calm the fears instead of tearing at each other or superfluous status bragging. 

To love, to witness, begins with acknowledgment of our faults (we are not perfect), being healed, and continues with willingness to serve. 

We don’t serve with full cups or no room for the Spirit to meet us and teach us. We empty our cups to make room. We serve with open hearts and minds willing to be filled with love and Spirit - not for callous gloating but so that those around us can also witness in their hearts and minds.

God gave us, and continues to give, so much so that we may have life - true life in the word made flesh. Give thanks and praise. Be healed.

Yes, the spirit is guiding us. 

Are you willing and ready to listen - to witness? 

And when the spirit asks of you “Whom shall I send; who will go for us?”

Will you respond, like the dreamer, “Here am I, send me” ?

When you do, the possibilities abound.

That Beloved is…

Thanks Be to God.