Seasonal Message

 

Trinity Sunday 2010

Jesus said "when the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all the truth  ...because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine."  John 16:13-15

One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How can God be three 'persons' and yet be One? God as Trinity is the foundation of Christian faith. The Trinity is sometimes represented by a hand coming out of a cloud, Jesus beneath the cloud and a dove representing the Holy Spirit joining them together. St Augustine's church has a stained glass window with this image. Perhaps you could look for it next time you are in the church. Another way the Trinity is represented is by three connected spirals. This is a traditional Celtic Christian representation and reflects the balance between the three elements of the Trinity. This symbol is also to be seen in St Augustine's on the green chasuble worn by the priest in the season following Trinity Sunday.

Consider the three persons of the Trinity:

God the Father, the 'uncreated', the creator of all.
Jesus, God incarnate, who was born, lived and died as a man and taught us human beings how to know God the creator.
God the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts and minds with the knowledge and love of God, that provides the timeless connections between ourselves, Jesus and the creator.

One way to think about this is to think of a circle of three people in which each person is only illuminated by the light of torches that the other two are holding. Each one really wants us to see and love the others so they do their best to shine the light to give the best possible view. The creator Father shines light on Jesus and the Spirit; Jesus tells us of his Father the creator and the Spirit; the Holy Spirit illuminates God the Father and God the Son. The light from the torches spills out towards us the audience and draws us in to the circle so that we begin to be part of the circle ourselves, warmed and lit by the love of God.

From the last verse of the hymn known as St Patrick's Breastplate:

'I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.'

with blessings
Sara Scott
(Hon. curate) 

30th May 2010