Trinity Sunday

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.   This is the second of three Solemnities which follow the Easter season:  Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and The Body and Blood of Christ.

Trinity Sunday presents an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the nature of God.  The belief in a triune God i.e God being three (tri) in one (une) unites Christians of varying faith traditions.

As is often the case, one can find out a great deal of what a people believe by reading the text of the hymns they sing.  Consider our entrance hymn “O God Almighty Father.” (#714) Each of the verses describe one person of the Holy Trinity.  As you sing, listen for various words used  to describe Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We speak and hear of the Trinity regularly in worship.  Many of us bless ourselves “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” as we enter the church.   In the introductory rites of the liturgy the priest begins with a similar invocation.   

Our scripture readings continue to speak of the Holy Spirit.  Note that today's gospel (found on page 174) took place prior to Pentecost.  (This explains why it speaks of Jesus promising to send the Holy Spirit.)

You will hear references to the Holy Spirit in today's music.  

We will again sing "Veni Sancte Spiritus" as the response to the prayer of the faIthful.  (For more on this, go to stmarysnutley.org and see last week's "liturgical notes.).   

We will also go from church singing "The Spirit Sends Us Forth." (#377)

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It is also important to point out that the coming of the Spirit is not a one-time event.  As Christians we believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world today both in individuals, communities and in the church.

Over the past two weeks 14 adults and 80 teens received the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation.  We congratulate them and their families.