Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "I Bind Unto Myself This Day"
Today's Gospel
John 3: 1-17 Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Reflection
Today we read about Nicodemus, a highly intellectual and religious scholar who is struggling to understand what Jesus is telling him about the Holy Trinity. Like Nicodemus, sometimes it’s hard for us, as humans to grasp what the bible says.
That’s because we too try to put things into a frame reference that we can relate to. It’s not comfortable for us accept that there are things beyond our comprehension.
And the concept of the Holy Trinity falls into that same category. The category that’s hard to get your head around, similar to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity or Quantum Theory. At one level it seems to make sense, but on another it’s just mind-blowingly complex.
Let’s be honest, if someone tells you they fully understand all the workings of the universe, time and space, they probably don’t really get it. Similarly, if someone says they absolutely understand the Holy Trinity, they probably haven’t thought it through properly.
But that’s OK. Because it’s a ‘mystery’ and it’s such a wonderous mystery!
I mean how do you begin to understand the concept of one God who exists as 3 separate persons? How can one equal three?
I’ve heard several simplified explanations over the years. Some people describe the Holy Trinity as being like water. It can exist in solid form as ice, in liquid form as water and as a gas in vapour form. But that’s not the whole picture is it? Because water can only exist in one state at any given time.
However, we know that at the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, Jesus was present in the river, God was present in the Heavens speaking to Jesus and the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a dove descending upon Jesus. At the Baptism of Christ, We witness all three persons of God, distinct and present at the same time.
Alternatively, some folk use the analogy of an orange which also has three distinct components. The skin or peel, the juicy flesh which we eat and the pips in the middle. All together they form a whole orange. But of course, once you separate them they will never exist again as a single whole fruit. So that example does work because we know that Jesus is fully divine. Jesus also says [Matthew 12:29] The Lord our God, the Lord is One.
There are plenty of other examples that folk have used to try to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity but all of them fail to fully encapsulate the enormity and magnificence of a single God that exists in three persons, where each person is fully divine and equal.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking, wow, this is really complex. Don’t worry because it’s acceptable to admit that there are things beyond our comprehension and beyond us. We should rejoice and celebrate that we have a loving God who exists in a way that is beyond our wildest imaginations.
It’s not meant to be easy to understand the Holy Trinity - in the same way that we can’t fully understand that God existed before the beginning of time and will exist for all eternity and created everything on earth and in Heaven.
But ask yourself this – does it matter? I don’t need to know how quantum physics makes my mobile phone work to be able to benefit from using it.
In the same way, we don’t have to fully understand everything about God to know that He exists and to benefit from his unbounded love:
To benefit from a Father who created each and every one of us and knew us before we were born. A father who knows our every thought and loves us for who we are and listens to all our prayers.
To benefit from a redeeming Son who took on human form, died for us on the cross and was raised from the dead so that we may be restored though His blood. A loving Son who wants to forgive us even if we don’t feel worthy, and who shows us the way to eternal life though our belief in Him.
To benefit from a Holy Spirit, whose loving presence comforts us, and enriches us from deep within ourselves. A Holy Spirit of truth who transforms us and shares gifts of goodness, love and faithfulness - to enable us to bring God’s Kingdom nearer.
So does it matter if we don’t fully understand God? No it doesn’t.
Jesus didn’t reject Nicodemus because he was spiritually blind and didn’t understand. Instead He invited him to share in the eternal life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, just as we are when we are invited to be baptised.
Let’s just be grateful and worship the divine mystery that is God and who will reveal all that we need to know when He wants to.Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father, thank you that through faith,
we have the opportunity to learn the marvellous things revealed in your Word.
May the Holy Spirit open our minds and guide us to more enlightenment,
so we may grow in grace as we journey through this life
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Holy, Holy, Holy!, Lord God Almighty"
Notices
Next Sunday we have just one service in the parish - a Service of the Word at 10 am at St Thomas' Church.
