Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Trinity Sunday: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 146 and 147; Evening, Psalms 111, 112 and 113;
Ecclesiasticus 43:1 to 12 and optionally (27 to 33); Ephesians 4:1 to 16; John 1:1 to 18“
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it:” (John 1:1 to 5)
For many years, even before seeking ordination, these words of the prologue to the Gospel of John have guided my faith as a Christian. It is in this “light that shines in the darkness,” that we listen to Nicodemus in our Eucharistic lesson from John. Our Lord Jesus is about what His self-same Creating and Sustaining God is doing for our salvation. And I am thankful.
Part 2 of 2
Eucharistic Readings for Trinity Sunday: Year B
Isaiah 6:1 to 8; Psalm 29 ; Romans 8:12 to 17; John 3:1 to17:
“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:” (John 3:1 and 2).
Then that is enough Nicodemus. If you “know” that our Lord Jesus has come from God because no one can do these signs apart from God, then just listen and obey. Get out of the darkness Nicodemus, and bring me with you.
Jesus further explains, “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:” (John 3: 13 to 15). This “lifting up” that Jesus speaks of has been explained by many commentaries as the lifting up on the cross. But I ponder that it is his being lifted up in His Ascension, in His being re-seated on the judgment seat, the seat from whence he came before time began.
So how much does God love us? “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: (John 3:16). This is perhaps the most repeated verse by Christians, and at the same time, not appreciated. Few realize that Jesus is still speaking to Nicodemus (and us) in the darkness of our unbelief. Nicodemus will be a convert to the faith of the Jesus Way and be there at his burial. Jesus continues, “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:” (John 3:17). First and foremost, God is all about love, love for us. We are called by Love, in order that we might also love. For this Trinity Sunday I don’t know how much of a Trinitarian I am. I can’t get past Jesus saying that God is Spirit (John 4:24), and Jesus Himself, Incarnate and left us in order to send us the Holy Spirit of God in Himself. It’s confusing, but I don’t try to understand. I just believe and trust, and try to love all people. Real Christianity is certainly not for the faint of heart. Blessed be the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier: Amen.
Let us live to love, more than just love to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 