Trinity Sunday Year B
Holy, H O L Y,
H O L Y !
Comment on this post: May 27, 2021: It seems we are forever complicating theology. Saint Francis evangelized the Irish using a simple plant to explain the Trinity—the lowly Shamrock with its 3 petals on a single stem. Blessings to you.
Introduction
The concept of the Trinity—Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer—is ancient. An excellent treatise on the subject, "The Trinity—a contemporary view", is provided below. For me, it's difficult to think of the three as one and the same, and in truth they are not—they are one BUT the same. I understand it best when I think of my varying roles in everyday living. The BIG fallacy of that way of thinking is it confines GOD to my human dimensions. The Creed helps me realize that I believe in the Trinity One God so I am happy with that. Here's a 3-minute video about the Trinity. Feel free to comment.
Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
From sermon4kids.com: “. . . how many Gods are there? Right, there is only one God. The Bible says there is "One God and Father of all," but God is made up of three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That is what we call the Trinity. ”
When we invite Jesus to come into our heart, we become a new creation. God doesn’t just clean us up and slap on a little paint, he makes us into a new person. Would you rather be, a worm or a butterfly?
Scripture: May 30, 2021—Isaiah 6:1–8 (image); Psalm 29 (image); Romans 8:12–17 (image); and John 3:1–17 (image). A video/audio journey through the scripture.
Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: Jesus invites us to be born from above to receive new and abundant life. Salvation, or abundant life, is understood as a present reality in the Gospel of John. If the gift of God’s love made known to us in Christ through the Spirit is stirred up by gratitude, what daily practice could increase your sense of gratitude? How could a simple practice of thanking God at any given moment in the day enliven your experience of salvation?
Symbols of the Church
Borromean Rings
According to the Athanasian Creed we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity and so Borromean rings have been used to represent this idea. An association can be traced back to Saint Augustin of Hippo (354-430). He described how three gold rings could be three rings but of one substance. A now lost 13th century French manuscript described the word "unitas" at the intersection of all rings and the three syllables of "tri-ni-tas" distributed in the outer sectors.
from "Holy Trinity Amblecote" website.
Eye Candy: “The Old Testament Trinity” by Andrei Rublev; “The Trinity” by F.A. Maulbertsch; “A vision of the trinity” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
Ear Worm: “The Apostles’ Creed” in song; “Holy is the Lord God Almighty” by Chris Tomlin; “Holy, Holy, Holy”, many ways: Hillsong, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Don McClurkin.
Brain Food:
Commentary on the Gospel by Thomas G. Long; “Trinity, Mystery, and Mercy” by Don Clendenin; "The Trinity—a contemporary view" by Australian Christian women;
“Trinity” by Kristen Alexander George
The flesh desires,
the soul/spirit convicts,
and the mind decides.
Parables: “Babette’s Feast” (1987), needs of the flesh versus the gifts of the spirit; “Angela’s Ashes” (1999), soul shattering effects of poverty; “Powder” (1995), a mystic with strange powers, compassionate service to others.
Did you know? The dogmatic sarcophagus is considered to be the earliest depiction of the Trinity. Explore it here.
For families: Study guide, group activity, snacks, kid video.
For children: activity one & two; bulletin games; craft;
For middlers: activity one & two; bulletin games; craft
For youth: For the summer, let’s explore how faith and science fit together—or do they? Here’s an introductory video to get us started. After you watch the video, think on these things: Why do you think science causes people to lose their faith? Have you ever felt like science challenged or threatened your faith? If so, how? Feel free to comment.
The liturgy today focuses our prayer and celebration on God who acts in history and is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The first reading today is the account of Isaiah’s vision of God enthroned with the heavenly host shouting, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” This passage provides the great hymn of the Eucharistic liturgy, celebrating our life within the life of the Holy Trinity.
The second reading is from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. This passage explores the ways the Persons of the Trinity relate to us. It is the Holy Spirit working in us who enables us to pray and to be fellow children of God along with the Son.
The Gospel reading today is Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, and the Evangelist’s discussion of the meaning of Jesus’ words. In explaining that salvation depends on being born again by water and the Spirit, Jesus reveals God’s three-fold nature as an active one. God the Creator is the Giver of life and the Savior of humankind.
As the Church, the People of God come together to celebrate the Eucharist. Called together by God’s Spirit, we encounter the Son in Word and Sacrament revealing the Father and leading us into the life and love of the Holy Trinity.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.