The following is an excerpt from Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today by Dr. Steven D. Brooks.
Trinity Sunday falls on the first Sunday after Pentecost, and with good reason. At Pentecost, Jesus is proclaimed as both the Messiah and Lord, and God the Father sends the Holy Spirit. The Western church has upheld the tradition of observing Trinity Sunday on the first Sunday after Pentecost since before the year 1000.
Trinity Sunday holds great significance for modern day Christians, as it serves as a vital reminder to fully acknowledge and appreciate the Trinitarian nature of God. In today’s culture, where New Age and Islamic beliefs are prevalent, understanding the three in one God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—is crucial for the Christian community.
The observance of Trinity Sunday provides an opportunity for worshipers to reflect on and deepen their understanding of the central Christian doctrine of one God in three persons, which is fundamental to the Christian faith. Observing Trinity Sunday helps Christians acknowledge and honor the eternal mystery of God’s triune nature and the profound relationship between the three persons of the Trinity. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of the unity and diversity within the Godhead, encouraging worshipers to live in unity and love with one another as a reflection of the divine nature.
©2024 Steven D. Brooks, Wipf and Stock Publishers
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author.
If you would like to read more about Trinity Sunday and the Christian year, and it’s spiritual impact upon the lives of worshipers, you can find more in Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today.