Coming Up: Trinity Sunday

God's grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of ALL of us sinners and our receipt of God's blessings. I can think of few things that evidence God's grace more than the Trinity.

Trinity Sunday, celebrated this year on May 26^th, is one of the few feasts that celebrates a doctrine rather than an event. On it we honor the “triune God,” Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It lasts only one day instead of having a whole “season,” which some say is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity.

Pope John XXII officially established the feast day in AD 1334 as the Sunday after Pentecost. It is especially popular in the Anglican tradition because Thomas Becket was consecrated on Trinity Sunday, AD 1162.

The concept of the Trinity is certainly beyond my full comprehension.  Although described in the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, it is most comprehensively addressed in the Athanasian Creed, beginning with the words, “We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.”

How can this be? Here are two illustrations that helped me. Think of your two eyes. They are distinct, yet one and undivided in their sight. Think of a musical chord. The notes are all distinct, but joined together as one chord the sound is richer and more dynamic. So the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is one Lord, almighty and eternal.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." (2 Corinthians 13:13)