And Then There Were Three

Hot on the heels of Pentecost comes Trinity Sunday. We go from a specific story in Acts 2 to a concept, an idea of how God works - God in three persons, as the hymn Holy Holy Holy reminds us, blessed Trinity. How many churches besides mine growing up used this as the processional every Sunday?

There is no stand-out, single narrative for this day,, just a belief around our God having three unique parts or roles or identities - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or for the more inclusive among us Creator, Christ and Spirit. The three have apparently always been - since time began, since before creation. Yet we celebrate them and their relationship to each other right after the birth of the church. In the liturgical calendar this follows one of the biggest days that launches the role of average people from around the world into the spotlight and the great divine plan.

Why would that be? Perhaps because we need to be sure that we remember who we are in relation to our amazing God. No tower of Babel moments or humanistic plans here. Maybe it’s because as the many individuals within and branches of the body of Christ struggle against each other, the image that our God wanted to be in relationship is an important one. God chose to not be alone but to have not one but two others to rely on whose gifts were a perfect complement and completion. Three isn’t a crowd here but allows for balance and perspective, revealing of the full nature and diversity of God.

We all have the image of God, the imago dei, within us. We have the creativity of our Maker, we have the earthy humanity Jesus took on to show God to us in human flesh, and we have breath and inspiration of the Spirit. We are drawn into community to mirror the inter-dependence of our God. Alone we wither, but together we complement each other’s gifts. At times one of us shines more than the others, accomplishes a specific task or offers the right words. At other times we step back, listening, learning and supporting. Our triune God models this dance, this intricate choreography, in the way that each Person of the trinity has critical ongoing roles, and moments to communicate divine brilliance and comfort and power.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could relate as effortlessly to each other as the Trinity, whether within our families, congregation or the larger church? As I write this I am anticipating the annual General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, where contentious issues will be discussed that could fracture the denomination. This meeting will be virtual for the first time ever and this will impact the sense of unity and perhaps even the sense of the Spirit’s presence guiding those attending and deliberating. My prayer is that we can reflect the model of our triune God, allowing for difference while still remaining whole.

We are invited this weekend and beyond to dance together, to reflect the cooperation and grace of our triune God and to recognize our inter-dependence. We are invited to honour the image of God our heavenly parent and Creator in each of us, the Christ in each face, and the Spirit speaking through us. May we inspire those around us to want to know the God they see in us.