Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday, our belief of God in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three seems to be a human formula in art and writing and in concept; there is something intrinsically satisfying for us to do and say things in threes.
We speak of faith, hope and love; the past, the present and the future; Christmas, Easter and Pentecost; punt, kick and pass. The Holy Spirit is Advocate, Counselor and Comforter. There is what is, what was and what will be. We jump, or do, or go, or stop on the count of three. There is win, place and show; the Three Stooges, Fiddler’s Three, the Three Tenors and three peas in a pod. Disasters and death always seems to come in threes¾and do you remember three on a match? Three strikes and you are “out.” I remember the phrase “Jesus, Joseph and Mary” from my childhood (usually not in very good circumstances…)
Three is the charm, and it is the basis for our conceptualization for the many faces, forms and facets of God. The Trinity is a gift for us in all things we are, all things we do, and all that we will be. God in three persons, unique and holy, yet one in all! It may be difficult to understand God as three, (“My ways are not your ways…”), but the Trinity helps us to conceptualize the love, grace and mercy bestowed upon us: a threefold blessing!
In the Gospel from St. John today we hear Jesus say: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” It might just be that in all wisdom (listen to the First Reading today!), we should just gather to praise, worship and adore (3!) rather than worrying about intellectually understanding the Trinity. It may be better to think this way: ONE— The Creator; God’s generosity in creation, the beauty of the earth, and all the marvels around us. TWO—We have the saving grace of Jesus: all we do is filtered through our personal relationship with God; we are reminded of God’s generosity of love and mercy for us. THREE—We are not alone, ever; we have The Spirit: we are given generous seven-fold gifts for spiritual strength, endurance and hope. Wow! The Holy Trinity (God: who is a relational being Godself), is the example of living our life in relationship with God, ourselves and others. No wonder we pause this Sunday in our return to Ordinary (counted) Time to remember God’s three-fold generosity!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
We speak of faith, hope and love; the past, the present and the future; Christmas, Easter and Pentecost; punt, kick and pass. The Holy Spirit is Advocate, Counselor and Comforter. There is what is, what was and what will be. We jump, or do, or go, or stop on the count of three. There is win, place and show; the Three Stooges, Fiddler’s Three, the Three Tenors and three peas in a pod. Disasters and death always seems to come in threes¾and do you remember three on a match? Three strikes and you are “out.” I remember the phrase “Jesus, Joseph and Mary” from my childhood (usually not in very good circumstances…)
Three is the charm, and it is the basis for our conceptualization for the many faces, forms and facets of God. The Trinity is a gift for us in all things we are, all things we do, and all that we will be. God in three persons, unique and holy, yet one in all! It may be difficult to understand God as three, (“My ways are not your ways…”), but the Trinity helps us to conceptualize the love, grace and mercy bestowed upon us: a threefold blessing!
In the Gospel from St. John today we hear Jesus say: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” It might just be that in all wisdom (listen to the First Reading today!), we should just gather to praise, worship and adore (3!) rather than worrying about intellectually understanding the Trinity. It may be better to think this way: ONE— The Creator; God’s generosity in creation, the beauty of the earth, and all the marvels around us. TWO—We have the saving grace of Jesus: all we do is filtered through our personal relationship with God; we are reminded of God’s generosity of love and mercy for us. THREE—We are not alone, ever; we have The Spirit: we are given generous seven-fold gifts for spiritual strength, endurance and hope. Wow! The Holy Trinity (God: who is a relational being Godself), is the example of living our life in relationship with God, ourselves and others. No wonder we pause this Sunday in our return to Ordinary (counted) Time to remember God’s three-fold generosity!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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