What is the Trinity? John 16 5 - 15

Today is Trinity Sunday, a word which is never used in the Bible. As Anglicans we are Trinitarians ,we say, “We believe in the Trinity” but what do we mean?

It is the unique description of the unique relationship of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, three different parts of the One. Possibly for many people one of hardest things, if not to understand, certainly to describe. What do we say how can we believe in one God and yet describe him as three persons.

My preference for describing the Trinity is by referring it to water--a glass of water, an ice cube, steam—all the one but different. Of course if you were here this morning I might say I rather liked the omelette, and I also liked the beans on toast not least because it did away with the pomposity the church seems so fond of.

But for some reason when I began to think of water and the Trinity my mind went back to something I learned at school – back in the dark ages, and it must be the only thing I remember from my science lessons – and that is the saying ‘what he thought was H2O was really H2SO4.

I’m not sure why my subconscious went in that direction but I think it is possibly to do with misinterpretation of the Trinity, of God. If the science teacher doesn’t teach the difference and someone drinks H2SO4 they will probably die, if the Church doesn’t teach the meaning of the Trinity, the meaning of God, people become spiritually dead.

Without a doubt there are thousands upon thousands of young people in our country who live positive, caring lives, but there does seem to be a sizeable number who are trapped in, I suppose, negative thought. God’s love seems to be unknown – they probably know the name ‘God’ but it seems to convey nothing. But more than that, they seem to put no value in life, neither their own or other peoples. They must realise that if they attack someone they will be caught and possibly sent to prison and yet they seem to value their own lives so little that it doesn’t matter. Even the thought of losing their own lives seems unimportant. I simply can’t believe that anyone with any self esteem would wish to be deprived of choice and opportunity. I know I may be wrong but it’s the way I feel.

Of course we can blame the parents, say they have failed in their duty – but how much self esteem do the parents have, do they value themselves or indeed their children.

We are, in many families, in the second generation who have been brought up with no, or very little, Christian teaching. Brought up without prayer; without knowledge of the power of God’s love; the knowledge that death is not the end; or any idea of the meaning of life. Life is so meaningless that getting drunk or winning the lottery may seem the only escape options.

What amazes me is that the Church can spend hours arguing over women bishops, gay priests, but not over what is wrong in life for so many people. Is it because we know we share the blame for these dysfunctional families, the church has in many cases let them down.

Many writers focus on the ‘fear of God’ - which is a controversial issue. I’m not sure – I know that throughout the bible we are taught that we ought to fear God; to stand in awe of his awesome power and might, and to fear his wrath, but its not the same as being scared of the teacher, because the teacher doesn’t love us as God loves us, and that is surely what we need to be teaching.

God wants us to lead a good life because of his love for us, because he knows us like no-one else does.

What is missing in people’s lives is the love of God, the understanding that the Holy Spirit is with us all the time.

Whilst the word Trinity may not be in the Bible there are many references to the Trinity such as today’s reading . Jesus is talking to his disciples,

and He refers to the Holy Spirit as well as to the Father. He says, “unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Then he refers to the Father …..”I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer.”

And going right back to Christ’s Baptism , God the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are referred to. “As Jesus was coming up out of the water , he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The

evidence of all three persons in the Godhead.

Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit was going to be there was everyone--not just for certain people, important people, leaders when necessary but for all people all of the time. For me I believe that God is the Creator of all, the Father of all, that he came to earth with the name Jesus ‘the Messiah’ to buy salvation for us and show us how we should lead our lives, and then came back as the Holy Spirit to be along side us always. To guide us, heal us, comfort us, an eternal presence not just for the chosen few but for everyone who seeks him.

One of the problems with the church today, as I see it, is that it seems far more concerned with rules and doctrine, the mind – rather than the mystical the heart. And perhaps that leads to God the Father being easily accepted as he is the creator, Jesus because historically he can be proved, and somehow the Holy Spirit being to some degree ignored and yet we all need the Holy Spirit as the inner power and strength which enables us to

cope with our daily lives.

Perhaps the church, instead of shouting about sexuality, should be shouting about the power of the Holy Spirit. If we have water we must also have ice and steam, if we believe in God we must also have Jesus and the Holy Spirit – that is our message, that is our faith. Amen.