. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b

Trinity Sunday Yr C

Hope Given

Contemporary icon by Kostka Markocych, Downloaded 05222025 from Droga Ikoni website.

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Published date 6/11/2025

Introduction

Often we spend time pondering about mysteries, like that of the Trinity—three in one and one in three God. Saint Patrick used the example of the shamrock. Sermon4kids uses the example of an egg.

Consider the shamrock example. We can see a shamrock plant and see three "leaves" clearly ganged together by their stem, yet each leaf is distinct from its siblings. Certainly that makes it easier for me to "see" the concept. Some scholars believe that Saint Patrick really didn't come up with the concept. When I think about the egg concept, it too helps me "see" the concept: There is the shell, the white part, and the yolk. In this instance, the shell seems to hold or bind the other two. That's pretty comfortable thinking about Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Yet another children's worship creator suggests looking at the three phases of water: ice, fluid, steam (or solid, gas, liquid). In this instance, I am drawn to think that one of these "changes into" another so that doesn't quite satisfy me.

If we give ourselves a minute to think, we can come up with a number of other examples we might use to explain this phenomenon. With no disrespect intended to those who focus on the Trinity concept, is this not "straining at gnats"? Do we not get so focused on explaining this "mystery" that we overlook its power? My God created my world (and me) and all that is in it. My God saved me from myself. My God sustains and supports me in everything I do. My God envelopes me: above me, within me, beneath me. Think of the encircling prayers from the Celtic tradition, also known as caim prayers (read a few examples here). A well-known example of these prayers is the middle section—"Christ be with me. Christ within me. . . ."—that is part of the hymn "I bind unto myself today."

I welcome hearing your examples of a trinity, three in one and one in three. Comments welcome.

John 16:12-15

Jesus said to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

From sermon4kids.com: “. . . the Trinity is hard to understand. . . . [Hold up a boiled egg] How many eggs do you see? That’s right! . . . one egg. . . . the egg is made up of three parts. The first part is the shell. . . . The next part you see is the egg white. Next, [Peel back the white.] . . . Now what do you see? Right! You see the yellow yolk. The egg has three parts—the shell, the white, and the yolk—but only ONE egg. In the same way, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons but only ONE God!”

Scripture: June 12, 2022—Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (image); Psalm 8 (image) or Canticle 13 (or Canticle 2) (image); Romans 5:1-5 (image); and John 16:12-15 (image).

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: Trinity Sunday is not so much a day for explanations as it is a day for reflection on the majesty and mystery of the fullness of God: God as Creator, Lawgiver, the One who performs mighty acts; God as Messiah and Lord, Savior, Liberator, known to us in Jesus Christ; God as Holy Spirit, Wind and Flame, Advocate, Comforter. How does thinking of God in this Trinitarian way inform, even increase, your understanding of God? Do you experience God, or relate more easily to God, in one of the three “Persons” of God more than the other two? What causes you to relate to God more closely in this way?

A visual/audio journey.

Images enhancing
the scripture

“The Old Testament Trinity” by Andrei Rublev

“The Trinity” by F.A. Maulbertsch

“A vision of the trinity” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

a page of images and descriptions of Canticle 13 or The Song of the three young men

Music founded
in the scripture

“The Apostles’ Creed” in song

“Holy is the Lord God Almighty” by Chris Tomlin

“Holy, Holy, Holy”: Hillsong

“Holy, Holy, Holy”: Mormon Tabernacle Choir

“Holy, Holy, Holy”: Donnie McClurkin

Other voices
about the scripture

Commentary on the Gospel by Thomas G. Long

“Trinity, Mystery, and Mercy” by Don Clendenin

The flesh desires,
the soul/spirit convicts,
and the mind decides.

Movies representing some part of the scripture

“Babette’s Feast” (1987, G), “needs of the flesh and gifts of the spirit”, “needs of the flesh and gifts of the spirit”, by Thomas J Curry, "through the feast, Babbette comes to share in God's kingdom, a Parisian refugee Babbette cooks for pious family, Review1, Review2, Review3, Review4

“Angela’s Ashes” (1999, R), “I wondered how my brother and I survived”, "soul-shattering effects of poverty", story of immigrants returning to Ireland following the death of their 7 year old daughter, Review

“Powder” (1995, PG-13), a mystic with strange powers, compassionate service to others, in which a young albino lives in his grandfather’s basement, Review

Image credit: Photo by Leonard von Bibra on Unsplash

For families: Study guide & activities (former guide), group activity, snacks. kid video.

For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; cereal box suitcase

For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; Wooden suitcase

Coloring pages: Trinity; Romans; Psalm 8; another Trinity; Trinity worksheet

For youth: "The Trinity" is considered a mystery that needs explanation. Our first understanding came from St. Patrick comparing "The Trinity" to a shamrock—three leaves yet one plant. Think a bit about how you might explain "The Trinity". Do you find it difficult to understand how the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" are three yet one? Your thoughts are welcome.

Image credit: Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash

The first Sunday after Pentecost has been celebrated as a feast in honor of the Holy Trinity since the tenth century. Most festivals of the year celebrate a historical event, and although we celebrate a doctrine today, it is a doctrine based on historical events which revealed the nature of God as the Holy Trinity.

The first reading is Isaiah’s vision of God. The acclamation by the heavenly hosts, “Holy, holy, holy,” was regarded by early Christians as an Old Testament revelation of the triune nature of God. The vision of the heavenly worship in the second reading again uses the hymn from Isaiah sung before the throne of God.

In the Gospel reading from John, Jesus describes the work of the Father, the Spirit, and himself as the work of the one God. This is not a developed doctrine of the Trinity—one was not fully developed by the church until the fifth century—but in it God is described as a dynamic relationship into which we are incorporated through the Holy Spirit.

We come together to celebrate the Eucharist, and, called together by the Spirit, we encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, revealing the Father, and leading us into that eternal exchange of love which is at the heart of the Blessed Trinity.

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