Holy Trinity Sunday (GA)

Luke 22:31-38

³¹ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ³³ Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” ³⁴ Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” ³⁶ He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” ³⁸ And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

Has Satan demanded to have you? Has Satan sifted you like wheat? Has Satan shown you all your faults? Have you heard Jesus praying for you? Have you heard the Holy Spirit calling for you? Have you noticed the Father sharing his Love for you? It does not matter whether or not you have experienced these things, all of them are true.

St Peter says he is ready to die or go to prison. St Peter may even be the one with two swords, as he drew at least one in the Garden to cut off someone’s ear. St Peter seems a little mixed up. Ready to die and even ready to fight, yet when it comes to the time of truth, he is the first to deny. How far are we really willing to go for the confession of the Holy Trinity?

There are many of you confused. You were ready to say to death for Jesus Christ. You were ready to say to death for your church. You may have even been ready to say to death for the Holy Spirit or God the Father. But the Holy Trinity? St Peter does not deny the Holy Trinity.

St Peter is not you, and you are not St Peter. The Holy Spirit has been poured out into your heart in Baptism. He has sanctified you in the truth. He has even pointed you to Jesus Christ. Jesus points us to believe in him and in the one who sent him. The Holy Trinity has provided your salvation. Therefore it is the right question: How far are we really willing to go for our confession of the Holy Trinity? “This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.”