Dear Reader and Listener, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for the week after Trinity Sunday is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 6 verse 3, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of host, the whole earth is full of his glory,” (Amplified Bible). This verse is taken from the song of the seraphs, praising the Lord, as they fly around the throne singing with great joy for the Lord, God, reigns in majesty. The address of the thrice repeated word “holy” can be seen as a foreshadow of the Trinity: God, the Father and God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, being worshipped, after the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, having had completed his work on the Cross for humanity’s salvation.
The Feast of Trinity is celebrated with great jubilation in the Christian Church. It follows after the Feast of Pentecost and tells of the work of God, the Father, God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, in accomplishing salvation and everlasting life for sinful humanity. Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them alone as orphans after his return to heaven, but he will send the paraclete, the One who stands alongside us. The Holy Spirit continues to fill the believers with faith and understanding of God’s words and work here on earth and keeps their eyes turned to Jesus, the beginning and ending of their hope in glory. The Holy Spirit works in the unbelieving world to bring this world to see Jesus and prays and intercedes with inexpressible groans to God the Father, and Christ the Son.
The Apostle John explains in his First Letter, Chapter 5 verses 5 -11, “For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, The Word (Jesus, the Enfleshed Word of God) and the Spirit.” The God-head is a complete unity functioning in purpose and intent in complete harmony, but it contains three individual persons, each with their own unique attributes and work. God, the Father, the Creator God and Maker of everything as is written in the first article of the Creeds. God, the Son, who is Jesus, Christ the only begotten Son, having come down to earth to be the Saviour of the world as is demonstrated in the Second article of the Creed. And God, the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son, to bear witness on earth and who comes alongside humanity as they journey homeward to God as is spoken of in the Third Article of the Creed.
Our watchword for today is taken from Psalm 94 verse 4, “For You, O Lord have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing,” (Amplified Bible). We can sing and rejoice with the psalmists for the works of God’s hands are wonderful. He has had us in mind from the beginning of creation and he planned and purposed for us to be redeemed by His Son. He planned that we would be accompanied by His Holy Spirit in our life here on earth, which is the entrance to our life with him in heaven, where we will feast at the table spread for us.
Because of the power that the Holy Spirit bestowed on the apostles at Pentecost, they were given bold courage and eloquent testimony to preach and teach the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross for the lost world. This work of Jesus reconciled humanity back to God, their Father. The Spirit is working in each one of the believers to give them words and courage to preach the gospel as they dwell in this world. The gospel writer, Luke, writes in the Book of Acts, Chapter 4 verse 33, “With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all,” (NRSBV).
The blessing and benediction for this Sunday is truly expressed in the blessing of the Apostle Paul in the Second Letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 13 verse 14, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,”(NRSVB). This is our Christian hope for this world and her people, the blessing of the Triune God, experienced in every moment of the day. May we rejoice with the seraphs and sing holy, holy, holy to our Lord God, Father and Son and Spirit!
Father, how awesome are your works on behalf of humans, we thank you that you present yourself to us in the your all in compassing Trinity. We thank you for creating us in this world, redeeming us and giving us power to live and work until you bring us to our heavenly home, Amen.