Meditation for Trinity 2025
Collect for Trinity Sunday
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; for you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
John 16: 12-15
Three in one and one in three?
In the ranks of clergy, there is a widespread feeling that preaching on Trinity Sunday is best left to either the Bishop or the Curate. The exam question is ‘How can something be three independent entities but also be one entity – at the same time?’
People tell you it’s not actually that difficult really – we just need to understand that God is one person – but three persons. Er…
OK that doesn’t help. Try again, Michael. What does it say in today’s creed? That we ‘acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty worship the Unity.’ Yes but how?
The singer John Pantry recorded a song called ‘Builder, Buyer, Occupier’ (I couldn’t find it online, unfortunately) that helps in understanding the Trinitarian Roles of God the Creator, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; and it’s theologically spot on. But in practical terms, I sometimes use the example of a kite.
In Euclidean geometry, a children’s kite is a flying quadrilateral with reflection symmetry across a diagonal, the area A of which may be calculated as half the product of the lengths of the diagonals p and q. So A=0.5 (p*q) Did that help? No, I didn’t think it would.
Much better to ask a child, who will explain patiently that a Kite is a collection of sticks, paper and string glued together that blows in the wind. Three things in one thing.
The sticks, paper, and string are created by God. The glue that puts them together is Jesus our Redeemer. But that isn’t all. For a Kite to be a kite, it has to fly – which needs wind – or, you might say, the Spirit, the breath of God.
The sticks are still sticks. The paper and string haven’t lost their properties either. The wind blows whether there is a kite or not. But when they come together, they are one. Just like a church – God’s people created as unique individuals, brought together with a common creed, and living as the body of Christ in the power of the spirit. The whole is greater than the parts – in the case of the Kite. But in the case of the Trinity, each part is great in itself, so in that case, the kite metaphor breaks down. We need a better one. Answers on a postcard, please.
p.s. just a thought – you couldn’t fly a kite inside a church building –for the Kite to fly you’d have to go into the windy street outside. Where does that place the need for the Spirit to act???
Previous Posts
Praying Together 22nd February 2026
If we are to appreciate the gentleness of a lamb, we need to know its opposite. If we are to understand what safety is, we need also to experience the possibility of danger.
Praying Together 15th February 2026
Perhaps, when we pray, we need to remember it is the Jesus on the Mountain to whom we address our prayers, the one whose face shines like the sun and transfigures our faces as we radiate in His light.
Praying Together February 8th 2026
Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
Praying Together February 1st 2026
Christ’s words are given to all His people in the face of the difficulties we ourselves face in life. We claim them and are assured of Blessing. And that is all we need.
Praying Together January 25th 2026
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Praying Together 18th January 2026
In prayer, we ask: Who is God calling to come and use their specific individual gifts to continue to build His Kingdom in the future?
His reply is clear.
“You”, He says.
Praying Together 11 January 2026
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Praying Together 21st December 2025
Joseph’s example is one of love, human reaction, vocation and ultimate obedience to his Creator. So we rightly celebrate both Mary and Joseph as the chosen parents of the Christ-child. But we must also remember that they were ordinary people with human emotions who lived extraordinary lives.
Praying Together December 7th 2025
By your grace we have the gift of the Scriptures. With the help your grace, may we listen deeply to what you want to say to each one of us. May we know your gifts of endurance, encouragement and hope, so that not only our lips but also our lives may be a song in praise of your mercy.
Praying Together November 30th November 2025
The significance of the Themes and Candles we light during the Advent Season.
Praying Together 23rd November 2025
We celebrate the beginning of the story in Advent – but before we do, it is equally important to celebrate the final act of Coronation. The Gospel proclaims that Jesus is King.
Praying Together 16th November 2025
In ways, the Christian Journey is like a race – a Marathon, not a sprint. The key is endurance, Jesus says. There will be mountains to climb, tears and heartache in the depths of your soul, and it will sometimes feel like it’s impossible to carry on. But the world will continue, and end only in God’s good time.