Mind-boggling
Sermon by Pr. Craig Mueller on Holy Trinity Sunday + June 15, 2025
The Council of Nicaea, depicted in this 16th-century mural, was a meeting of Christian bishops in 325 to resolve disputes about the nature of Jesus Christ.
Mind-boggling. What are some things you consider mind-boggling? Awe-inspiring events like witnessing the birth of a child or being at the bedside of a dying family member? A view of a mountain, a lake, a sunrise, or something in nature? A work of art or music that takes your breath away or moves you to tears?
For many of us, what has been happening in our country the past five months is mind-boggling. Or how about the events of the past three days? Political violence and killings in Minnesota. Escalating violence in the Middle East. The National Guard and Marines sent to L.A. without the consent of the governor. And a military parade that aides in the president’s first term advised him against, and told him that was what dictators did.
For some, the fact that we are in church worshipping a deity is mind-boggling. Religion is in conflict with science, they insist. How do you people believe that stuff, they think to themselves.
Here we are on the feast of the Holy Trinity in a church called Holy Trinity. And let’s be honest, the concept of the trinity is one of the mind-boggling things about Christianity for many. Three-in-one. One-in-three. Can you really parse or dissect divinity?
I admit it would be kind of fun for me. I’d love to do a Theology of the Trinity 101 Ted Talk this morning. But alas! We aren’t going there. I’d have to deal with a lot of rolled eyes or even snoozing parishioners! But there is something mind-boggling about this year’s feast of the Holy Trinity. And it’s an anniversary! It was mind-boggling—and inspiring—to celebrate our congregation’s 150th anniversary last year. In 2017 we marked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. And looking ahead one year from now: it is mind-boggling for me to wonder how it will feel in our divided country to celebrate our 250th anniversary. Also known as a Semiquincentennial!
Are you ready for this whopper of an anniversary! This year, and right now, Christians around the world are celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. 1700 years is mind-boggling enough. But the context and controversy behind the Council of Nicea—and the Nicene Creed—are mind-boggling. It was hard enough to wrap my head around the debate decades ago when I was in seminary. And as I did a refresher about it this week, it still is. Let me say don’t ask me to write an essay on the Arian controversy!
So let me keep it as simple as I can. In the summer of 325 Emperor Constantine welcomed several hundred bishops, and a thousand other clergy, theologians and staff to Western Turkey. Eee-hah! A church convention! Though Constantine embraced and legalized Christianity, his motive in calling the ecumenical Council of Nicea was likely more about imperial power and control. Some things never change, do they?
How many of you were aware of this 1700th anniversary of the council of Nicea? Believe it or not, it’s not just being heralded in religious circles. It’s featured in this month’s National Geographic! With this headline: “How the Council of Nicea changed Christianity forever. This raucous meeting was one of the most important in Christian history.”
What’s the big deal, you’re wondering by now. Thank you for asking! Nearly all Christians adhere to and/or recite the Nicene Creed. It's mind-boggling to consider that for 17 centuries Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestants have been united in this essential part of our faith: the Holy Trinity. God as triune. A reason to celebrate!
It is also mind-boggling—or maybe not—that what brought about the council was controversy and division. It had to do with whether Jesus was of similar essence as God the Father or of the same essence. The latter won: same essence. For me it is helpful to think of all this in relation to the Cosmic Christ rather than the historical Jesus, but I might be called out for heresy!
There aren’t many people losing their lives or losing sleep over any of this today. There are bigger fish to fry in the intra-Christian doctrinal wars! But it was a big deal then. One apocryphal story says that St. Nicholas became so enraged that he struck his opponent across the face. You think some church meetings or conventions are raucous. Think again!
In today’s gospel Jesus says: I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. In others, they will blow your mind! The Spirit will guide you into all truth.
The trinity is mind-boggling, for sure. Richard Rohr invites us to get out of our heads and think of the trinity as relationship. God is formlessness—that’s the Father. God is form—that’s God Son. And God is the living and loving energy between the two—that’s God the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity—our sense of God—is all about relationship. And that connects to science. Everything is about relationship: from atoms, to ecosystems, to galaxies. And thus, divinity. Everything is connected!
Maybe all the “I believe” stuff in the creeds is tough for you. Some think if they can’t check off all the stuff in the creed in the “I believe” category they aren’t Christians and throw everything out. One writer says a more ancient way of thinking about belief isn’t so much about what it is in our heads. But what is in our heart. Consider the creed that way. Instead of believe, think: I trust in God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
It's okay if all of this is mind-boggling to you. And maybe beyond comprehension. That’s the point of the trinity. Our theology isn’t about wrapping God up with a bow as if we understand divinity. In the end, it is mystery.
So let you mind be blown. And your heart opened. To a self-giving energy and love at the heart of the universe. And within your own breath. A triune God of relationship!
There is so much about life that is mind-boggling. Deep joy and unspeakable sorrow. Yet what we learn and practice in this place is praise and thanksgiving. For all that is.
