Collect and Readings for Trinity Sunday 30th May 2021 Year B Isaiah 6.1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8.12-17, John 3.1-17;
The Prayer for today
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This Sunday is known as Trinity Sunday when we reflect on the mysterious and holy nature of the one true God which is beyond our human understanding. This festival allows us time in the church year to think about the nature of God and what this means for us.
This symbol is sometimes referred to as the triquetra, the symbol contains three leaf-like shapes that interlock, making three corners, and sometimes with a circle in the middle (representing eternal life). It is a simple representation of the Trinity and is most often associated with Celtic art, such as the Book of Kells.
Each of the leaf like shapes represent one of the personas of God. First, God our Father and Creator; second, Jesus our Saviour and finally the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament we read about God the creator in the story in Genesis. Towards the end of the Old Testament we hear the prophesies of the coming of the Messiah and in the New Testament we read about how these prophesises were fulfilled with the birth and crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Last week we celebrated Pentecost when we rejoiced as the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the enabler who gave them the authority and courage to continue God’s work on earth.
If you look closely at the way the leaf like shapes in the symbol interact you will see that they are all inter connected as a never ending loop. Each individual part of the pattern points towards the other two, so Jesus the Son always points us to see the Father and the Holy Spirit. In turn the Father always directs us towards the Son and the Holy Spirit and of course the Spirit links us back to the Father and the Son.
It’s all a bit confusing a theologians and humble Vicars have been trying to understand and explain the Trinity in simple words for generations. Perhaps we need to stop trying to work out the why’s and how’s and just marvel and trust that God’s unfailing, unconditional forgiveness and love is a gift available to us all if we just ask.
I hope that if you have time you will reflect on the three persons in one God.
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson