Last month, I spoke of being in ‘Ordinary time’. The Sundays during this time are counted from Trinity Sunday which was 12th June. August 7th will be 8th Sunday after Trinity.
Trinity is the only major festival that celebrates church doctrine rather than an event and was instituted by Pope Gregory in 828CE. It is dedicated to the Christian belief in the Trinity – a God who is comprised of three persons. Yes, I know! Everyone finds it difficult – even theologians. The word Trinity is not found in the Bible, yet it is a foundational understanding of God for Christians.
One of the ways I come to terms with it is to understand myself as not only flesh and blood. What makes me uniquely who I am is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects, yet I am contained in one unit, so to speak – well most of the time!
My physical needs are food and drink, exercise, warmth, and so on. My thoughts don’t need food or drink. However, my mind tells my body it ought to eat when my stomach is empty. My mind warns me about danger or the need for company.
Curiously, many years ago even though I was not hungry or afraid, I yearned for something I just felt was missing in my life. That missing aspect was sparked by a spiritual hunger for meaning and truth met in a relationship with Jesus Christ. That aspect is my spiritual life.
God revealed himself in Jesus – a real man; a man who laughed and wept, who could be angry and afraid, yet rose from the dead. God the Holy Spirit is the power behind the universe, the soft wind and roaring seas, the life in creation. God the Father is the Creator, Lord of history and judge.
Forgive me if this is all rather complicated. In short, we were all made in the image of God; therefore it is not surprising there are different aspects to us. May you know the blessings of the holy Trinity always.
Revd Susan