Exhortation

Trinity season seems to be an anomaly in the church year. The other seasons mark and celebrate what God has done for us. Advent and Christmas celebrate the incarnation of the Son, Epiphany marks His revelation to the Gentiles, Lent is a time for remembering His sufferings and death; Easter is a memorial of Jesus’ resurrection, Ascension of His exaltation, Pentecost of the coronation gift of the Sprit.

Then we come to Trinity season during which we celebrate . . . . what? Trinity isn’t an event; it’s a doctrine ? How can we celebrate that ?

Trinity season is in fact the sum and climax of all the other seasons. In Pastor Sumpter’s sermon text this morning, we have a hint of this. Peter’s opening address has a Trinitarian form. For Peter, the Trinity is not an intellectual riddle, but a summary of a narrative, the story of a new exodus for those who are known by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, sprinkled by Jesus’ blood.

Trinity season goes even further. It is not only a summary of the narrative of our redemption; it teaches us that this story reveals God as He is. We celebrate Trinity season because it shows us that God is eternally the very same God who has revealed Himself in the incarnation, in the cross, in the resurrection, at Pentecost.

Trinity season is an annual reminder that God doesn’t just love us; He is love. God doesn’t just give Himself for us; He is an eternal self-gift. God doesn’t just pour out life-giving Spirit; He is life-giving Spirit.