June 21, 2026 Trinity III

June 21, 2026

Trinity III

One evening a while back in San Bernardino County, California, a car chase began about 6:30 p.m., coming to a conclusion about 90 minutes later.

The suspect in a car theft took off from Chino and led police on a chase that ended in Hawthorne. The erratic and meandering journey took officers to the Ventura Freeway, where the suspect vehicle sideswiped a Prius and nearly hit a tanker truck. After driving in the wrong direction, the thief pulled the car into the southbound lanes of the Interstate 5. There, the stolen vehicle was rammed once by a patrol car, but that did not deter this guy.

When he got into the Hawthorne area, having eluded capture for almost an hour and a half, a California Highway Patrol SUV executed a PIT maneuver, and game over. The car went sideways into a spin, and the driver was apprehended.

It might be unpleasant to use this as a metaphor for our relationship with God. But, in fact, it is a very common one, not only in the Bible, but in literature.

Notice that in the Bible, people are often running. They’re described as running away from God who, alternatively, is frequently depicted as wooing or chasing them.

Jonah is perhaps the best example. God’s hand is upon him, but Jonah is not comfortable with what God has in mind, and he tries to sneak away. He takes a compartment in the steerage of a ship hoping to hide out. You know the story.

The psalmist David writes, “Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).

The Israelites are often depicted as people careening down a path to destruction. And in battle, they sometimes ran away, rather than standing their ground. See 1 Samuel 17:8-11.

Alternatively, we have Jesus refers to the shepherd who, although in possession of 99 sheep, sallies forth at great risk to himself to find the 100^th lamb that’s run afield (Luke 15:1-7).

In that same chapter, Jesus tells the story of a young man who runs away from home. We know how that turns out.

It’s weird. Sometimes we mortals believe we can outrun and outmaneuver God.

To review this analogy: When the LAPD engages a suspect in a car chase, they hope first that the vehicle will run out of gas. Failing that, they hope the suspect will have a change of heart. The suspects who flee clearly understand that the law takes a dim view of their behavior. The LAPD officers in pursuit might try to get roadblocks into place. Failing that, officers may throw spike strips across the road.

When all means have been exhausted, the chief will authorize the PIT maneuver. The officer’s car now becomes the tool bringing the suspect’s surrender. The patrol car makes contact with the suspect’s rear fender and then pushes, sending the vehicle into a sideways spin and causing a loss of control.

Then, surrounded with no place to go, the runner emerges from the car with hands in the air, and then is usually told to kneel, and then may be asked to lie prostrate, whereupon he is cuffed and taken into custody. 

This patience and reluctance by law enforcement is mirrored in the way God handles us during the chase. As Francis Thompson’s hound with the hare, God is relentless but unhurried, patient and yet passionate.

· God begins by giving human beings free reign in the created world. But the rebellion is obvious and odious.

· God provides in writing what humans should have known in their hearts: the “law.” The running continues.

· God pursues.

· God sends adversity, obstacles, defeats, wars and pestilence and still — after momentary repentance — the resistance and fleeing continues.

· God sends prophets to be the voice of God, to remove any ambiguity they may have about God’s love and aspirations for the people of God. Through the prophets, God reminds us that — by all rights — God is the one who should be running away from the mess; it is the people who should be chasing after God who, in turn, would be justified in washing his hands of the whole affair.

And yet, were the people to truly seek God, God would be found: “When you search for me, you will find me. If you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:13-14). 

The Romans text explains how the PIT maneuver works.

The tool or vehicle is the cross. After providing the law, sending the prophets and exposing the people of God to disciplinary adversity, which failed to curb rebellion and disobedience, God uses the cross as a battering tool to send us spiraling into submission, hands in the air, on our knees and prostrate before him in complete surrender.

Of course, the metaphor breaks down because, unlike the California Highway Patrol, God is not going to force us to get out of the car, hands in the air, kneel and surrender.

That thief on the run in the opening paragraphs? The CHP stopped him with a PIT maneuver, but they had to smash windows and send in a K-9 unit before that miscreant exited the car, knelt and surrendered.

God’s not going to force us to surrender. We may need to stop before the cross, but we might not kneel.

Yet, Paul explains why surrender is our best option.

He has already reminded us that “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” Now, in these verses, he explains the difference between Adam, our ancestor, and Christ, our Savior. And the question he implicitly poses is: “To whom are you going to surrender?”

This is the meaning of the cross: There can be no more running away.

Let us pray.

In today’s gospel we get a very clear message – when we speak up for Jesus and for his message of love, he will certainly speak up for us before God, our Father.  We pray for the wisdom and will to speak out for truth, justice and charity in our daily lives. We pray to the Lord.  

For the healing of our earth. May we grow in our efforts to work toward healing and rejuvenation of our planet. May God help us sustain the earth upon which we live. We pray to the Lord.

For people who do not feel worthy to stand upon the earth. May we embrace people who have been abused and shamed in life. May our children be worth more than many sparrows. We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the repose of Charles Abbott Gentzsch, our beloved Associate Pastor and Vicar General for our humble church. May he rest in peace eternal in the arms of our Blessed Lord and Our Lady Mary. We pray for his family, that they be comforted that their husband, father, and grandfather is now in a place where pain and suffering are no more. Bring many to comfort them in this time. We pray to the Lord.             

We pray for those approaching end of life that they may draw strength from God’s love –  and that this spiritual strength encourage patient endurance in the face of difficulties and give true and certain hope in God’s promises to us. We pray to the Lord.                                    

On this Fathers’ Day, we pray for all fathers that they be guided by the Holy Spirit to love, support, guide and encourage their children in their education, recreation and knowledge of our loving God. We pray to the Lord.            

We pray for peace in the world, particularly in the Holy Land and in Ukraine, that the Holy Spirit reveals to all the futility of war and creates a desire for peace in the hearts of all peoples. We pray to the Lord.

We pray for an increase of priests, deacons and religious. We pray to the Lord.

We pray that those with generous means may be led to our small church and give generously to our mission so that we may continue to be a church open to all peoples . We pray to the Lord.

For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.

We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.

Creative, passionate God, you delight to shape the world in beauty and harmony. You invite us to participate in the balance of creation. We grow in wisdom as our experience unfolds; we take good learning out of difficult situations yet also find our well-meant endeavors leading to unintended consequences. Too often we give in to temptation that disrupts the joyous, chaotic order of the universe. We cannot undo all our mistakes, but we can turn once more to the living presence of Jesus and find new ways to live and love each other and the earth. Amen.

God Love You +++

The Most Rev. Robert Winzens

Pastor – St. Francis Chapel

San Diego, CA.

As a small parish, we come to you all as beggars! Share with us this Christmas, a little sacrifice for the Christ Child. Your generous support also allows us to continue these important projects that fuel the movement of progressive Christianity. Thank you and God bless you! +++

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