Sermon for The Feast of the Holy Trinity, 2025

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Now, perhaps, he did so because he didn’t want his fellow Pharisees to know he was meeting with Jesus. More likely, however, Nicodemus came to Jesus under cover of darkness because he wanted Jesus to understand something. “Jesus, we know who You are; we know that You are a teacher come from God,” he says. “Even though we would never admit that publicly, give us some credit—give me some credit—for knowing that much, at least.” Yet Nicodemus knew nothing. Jesus was not merely a teacher sent from God; more—much, much more—than this: He is God, one with the Father and one with the Holy Spirit; He is Himself, the Creator, in the flesh. 

Beloved, beware of letting such folly gain mastery over your heart. Do not think that you can impress God with anything that is yours: not with your knowledge, nor your works, nor even your heart. Do not think that there is any quality about you—not even your devotion to and reverence of Him—that is sufficient to allow you to approach Him. Do not dare to think something like this: “At least there’s a little good in me. At least, I have decided to follow Jesus. At least I know who He is.” Do not dare to think this way, for that would be to approach Him by night: according to the darkness of your own foolish heart. Turn from such folly. Recognize that, like Nicodemus here, you know nothing and are no more impressive to God than he. Turn, instead, and recognize and begin to learn that Jesus—Almighty God in the flesh—it is He who has made you, and not you, yourself. 

Readings:

• Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1-7

• Epistle: Romans 11:33-36

• Holy Gospel: John 3:1-17

Sermon: