Wake up O sleeper, and rise from the dead works of this life. Awake from the slumber of your daily habits and speak daily with your Father. Shake off the sleepiness of living this life in the stagnant waters of this world and be refreshed by the freshwater springing eternally from the Son through the Holy Spirit. The habits we inherit from our sinful old man may appear to make us productive, but oftentimes they are busy distractions from the realities of who Christ is, what Christ has done, and what Christ is doing through the Holy Spirit.

We are called into a transformational Trinitytide, not soul-slothfulness. Trinitytide is an invitation to enter into a dynamic relationship with the Holy Trinity and be transformed, for Christ did not simply save you for the sake of your soul, but acquired you to actively ambassadoring His Gospel into the places where you live and go. He saved both body and soul; Now He requires it of you. We are not called to be busybodies and moral do-gooders, but to advance the mission of God Almighty, who so loved the world that He sent the Son to redeem it and is sending His Spirit to transform it. St. John tells us, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (Epistle lesson, 1 John 4:9, KJV). His Church is growing and shall continue touching every culture, every language, every tribe, and every land, starting with your neighbor next door and reaching to the ends of the earth.

There is no ordinary time. We enter Trinitytide learning how to use the spiritual gifts given unto us. The ordinary time of the world wishes to bury you with worries, concerns, and troubles – overcome them and enter into this season of relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. There’s nothing ordinary about this season of the church year, for the extraordinary is happening and continues happening after Pentecost. Take up and read the Acts of the Apostles and enter into its abrupt non-ending. The second book authored by St. Luke ends without a conclusion because we are writing the next chapter as indwelt Spirit-bearing saints until Christ enacts the conclusion written at Revelation and revealed to His Apostles by the angels who told them Christ shall advent in the same manner as He ascended.

O Church, do not lack imagination; embrace the heavenly realities gifted to you by faith. Do you believe Christ has died for your sins and was raised again, bestowing life upon you in the tomb of your soul? “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15, KJV). Then believe Him when He tells us that He has sent you the Holy Comforter who dwells within you and strengthens you – yes, you – into His holy mission within Christ’s body, the Church. “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13, KJV).

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Nonbelievers and the de-churched sometimes look at Christ’s body and see boredom, ordinariness, and blandness. However, there is nothing ordinary about the love of God for His saints: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (Epistle lesson, 1 John 4:10, KJV). There is nothing ordinary about the transformative power of the Holy Ghost poured overabundantly upon those who believe. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.” (1 John 4:16, KJV). Nothing is boring when one enters into the deep, deep love of the Holy Trinity and receives the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. Simply put, there is nothing ordinary about the Christian life actively lived.

Living the faith is entering the love of our Father, the One who is “the strength of all those who put their trust in thee.” (Collect of the Day). We do not walk out the church doors ill-equipped, for we have heard the Gospel in our ears, received absolution for our souls, fed spiritually on the Son of God, and received God’s blessing as we depart in the Holy Ghost to face whatever hell and Satan may throw our way. Have we forgotten where we find the source of our strength – true strength, supernatural strength? The strong and mighty arm of God is our protector, and He is the One who armors us. Return to services this summer and do not forsake the Holy Days – they are for your comfort and strength. Return to the holy pew of your living room and make your floor rug the kneeler where you go to the Father, asking Him to “Mercifully accept our prayers, and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee.” (Collect of the Day). Return in your weakness and He shall make you strong for the battle. In His great mercy, He hears the prayer of the penitent and shall “grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Collect of the Day).

The joy of the Lord we enter into is expressed and known by extraordinary love. Love, not as defined by the world, for creation does not define the Creator. The Creator is the one who created us and is the creator of love. Therefore, since “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him,” (1 John 4:16), “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1 John 4:7, KJV).

What is extraordinary is that the world does not wish for Divine love as it does not love the Divine. The world relishes in hatred of the Creator and His love. Hence, sin, flesh, and the devil wish to distract you with boring, bland, ordinary life and its meaninglessness. Sure, the world tries to hide behind the facade of sex, drugs, and money, but it lacks transformation. The world can demean, devalue, and devolve you from image-bearer to animal, but it cannot make you reborn. Meanwhile, the Father is transforming His Church to make our love perfect, so “that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17, KJV). As Christ is, so are we in this world.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,

though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Christ loved us while we were yet sinners; let us love those sinners needing to hear the Shepherd’s call. Christ faced Satan in the wilderness with boldness; let us face the devilish demons who hinder us boldly. Christ had no fear when put on trial and looked down lovingly when sacrificed on the cross; hence, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” Let us torment hell with the piercing arrows of Christ’s love towards all within the Church and lovingly proclaiming the Gospel to those without. For, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20, KJV).

Loving our brother is not the same as being kind to another. It is not the same as having happy thoughts for another. It is unloving to keep silent while your neighbor is enslaved and bound by their sin. There is no love in keeping Christ to yourself. The gift of the Holy Ghost was not meant solely for you, but so that you might boldly proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord, and to do so orally and not solely by your living. Unwrap the gift of the Holy Ghost within you and share what God has given you for others to see the light of Christ. Jesus did not die on a cross for your temporal comforts; He bled and died on the cross and called you to take up yours and follow after. There is no greater love than this, “that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, KJV).

Our Lord Jesus, before He left, gave us a new commandment, that we should love one another as He has loved us. (John 13:34). Never forget, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, KJV). “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:21, KJV).

How shall we exercise this love in our living? We must steer the living dead to the living Word. Do not think you love your neighbor while never sharing the Good News that Christ has died for their sins just as much as he died for your sins. Share and share freely that the gift of the Holy Ghost within you is meant for them as well; there is more than enough of the Holy Ghost for all those who have ears to hear.

Holy living requires doing, acting, and loving with our words alongside our actions. Western Christians, I fear, have more in common with the rich man in today’s Gospel than we are willing to admit. We fail to feed the poor Lazarus at our feet despite him being easily within our reach, while hoping that when we face reality and die, somehow another will go for us and preach the reality of hell, judgment, and the Gospel to our friends and family. (Gospel lesson, Luke 16:19-31, KJV). Christian, you are called to be Christ’s body through the Church. Feed the poor, tend the sick, visit the prisoner, get dirty and become involved because the world does not want nor care to be involved in the souls of others – it merely wants to placate them with temporary pleasures as souls march down the road to perdition. Have none of it. Help those in need and yes that means feeding souls physically and spiritually. Do not wait on another, for you may be the last one sent by God to deliver Good News. You are the Apollos that God has called to water the thirsty before you. (“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 KJV).

Nothing is lost, and there is no need to be downcast. Look up dear Christian, as we have today – use it. Take up this day, and use it. Do not be slothful. Do not be ordinary. Do not be boring. Live recklessly for Christ. This is no day for ordinary living. Now is the time to enter into the life of the Holy Trinity. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, KJV). I beseech you brothers and sisters in Christ, “that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1, KJV). God Almighty has poured Himself into you for His amazing love and purpose. Take the risk of stepping out in faith. Take a leap of faithfulness to both feed the hungry and tell the Good News to the neighbors within our own household and neighborhood. You were equipped with the extraordinary Holy Ghost. Go and share His gifts to benefit your neighbor. The Father saved you for a time and a season; do not let ordinary distractions dissuade you from entering into the Son’s service. Live extraordinarily for the Lord.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;

holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!