This year, we mark the observance of Trinity Sunday by viewing the series of skits that the children produced in response to reading the book of Acts over the past two months. Traditionally, Acts replace the OT readings over the Eastertide season, while the second half of the season is especially focused on reflecting on the activity of the Holy Spirit, and noticing various ways in which it might manifest itself. The episode recounting the descent of the Spirit that we read last week on Pentecost Sunday concludes this theme.

In their first skit today, the children not only helped us review this passage, but they also cleverly connected it with the lesson I gave earlier in the season about the list of qualities that the Holy Spirit fosters in us. We call these qualities “the gifts of the Spirit”, as per the epistle reading from St Paul we heard today (Gal 5:22-23). The kids showed that the disciples received these gifts just as they saw the flames, felt the wind, and became understood in various languages. To build on this, the second skit showed that God calls us not only to cultivate these gifts personally, but also to foster them in others with the help of the Spirit, in imitation of Jesus’ self-giving, and in recognition of God’s continuous presence. Our reading from Matthew describes how Jesus “commissioned” his friends to inspire others in this way, and the kids showed how they would get the job started if they were the first disciples. This reading ties in perfectly with the Trinity Sunday theme because it says that Jesus sent his followers to baptize all kinds of people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:8-20). 

This is one of the very few places in the Bible that lists all three divine Persons in one sentence. The other one is St Paul’s closing of the letter to the Corinthians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”, with which we now open our liturgies. And certainly, no single portion of the Bible asserts that the divine Persons are of one essence, act together in each thing they do, and yet are distinct. The closest references to this doctrine are parts of the Gospel of John, such as where Jesus says he is “one with the Father”, or its opening chapter in which the mysterious Word is said to have been with God at creation (like the Spirit in the OT) and was born to dwell among us (like Jesus), thereby suggesting the Son’s unity with the Spirit and his pre-incarnate existence.

It took centuries for the Trinitarian dogma to grow from St Paul’s blessing formulated in the mid-first century, to the late 1st century Great Commission, to the early 2nd century Johannine texts, and finally into the Nicene Creed of the 4th century. This is a uniquely Christian way of conceptualizing God as a relational being, which developed over time and is now ecumenical. Yet, it is a highly technical term, itself an analogy, to which no other images can give enough justice, whether it is the shamrock, fountain-river; sun-rays; water in three states; energy, light and heat; sibling-parent-spouse; notes in a musical triad… these entities either do not all exist at the same time, or are mere roles or attributes of one thing, rather than fully distinct elements. We just don’t have anything like God in our physical world, or else God wouldn’t be God! 

Mysterious as it is, it is important. In our liturgy, we accompany these words by the sign of the cross; and some Christians even consider the gesture as protective. But at the core, to me, it simply means that God exists as a set of relationships – within him/herself, and with the Creation. Our Good News is that God lives in us and as us: now and forever, individually and collectively. When we treat others as we wish to be treated by tapping into the gifts of the Spirit, we collaborate with God, and we do so in imitation of the self-giving as represented in the Incarnation of the Son as Jesus. When we pray, we do talking, yet the Spirit within us does the prompting. 

Next week, I will return to my series of reflections on worship and liturgy, rites and customs. For today, let us note that worship both gives a witness to God’s life, and forms us as witnesses. The third skit that we watched represented Acts 10:39-43, which describes the nature of such a witness, and reminds us to engage in it continually. The apostles at one point received, or perhaps simply perceived the presence of the Spirit in that one instance together. This experience moved them so greatly that they communicated it to the wider multicultural community of Jerusalem dwellers and visitors, and later went to “all nations” to continue telling the story. Likewise, as we worship, I hope that we continue to gather in imitation of the unity and harmony that the Trinity describes. May we speak to God in one voice to God, and hear him as one mind, even though we each communicate with God directly and uniquely. Indeed, “we, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.” And may we then follow Jesus’ instruction to go out into the world and live out of the reality of his presence. Amen.

Reflection Prompts

This week, in lieu of the usual questions, consider composing an original poem to capture your understanding of the Trinity (or lack thereof!), using the following prompts.   

1. Start with a Strong Symbol: think of a powerful image that might hint at or represent something approaching the idea — something that has three distinct, yet interconnected components, and where the meaning or effect of the whole exceeds the sum of its parts (e.g., a musical chord). It won’t be an accurate or perfect representation, but that’s the point. 

2. Describe Each Person of the Trinity: talk about power and rule, love and sacrifice, guidance and holiness; or creation, redemption, sanctification; or sending, following, accompanying. Use comparisons and symbols to show the uniqueness and importance of each.

3. Show Their Unity: refer to the harmony, support, mutual giving, and completeness that characterize these relationships.

4. Use Bible Stories and Credal Teachings: add biblical references or church teachings to make your poem deeper and more meaningful. Let these stories help you find the right words and ideas.

5. End with a Surprise or Insight: finish with a new idea or perspective to give a deeper understanding and appreciation of the teachings.

6. Consider making it a “haiku” and accomplishing all of the above in only three lines! You might not necessarily be able to fit it into 5-7-5 syllables per line as you would in Japanese, but try making the second line a bit longer than the other two. Here is a beautiful example to get you started!