Trinity Hymn
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty,
God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the Saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
though the eye of sinful man Thy Glory may not see,
only Thou art Holy; there is none beside Thee,
perfect in Power, in Love and Purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and Mighty,
God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity.
Bishop Ian’s Trinity Prayer of Praise
“Praise to you Heavenly Father, Maker and Ruler of all Creation.
Praise to Your Blessed, Beloved, and only Begotten Son, Jesus our Saviour.
Praise to Your Mighty Holy Spirit, Who takes of the Things of Jesus, and shows them unto us, and comforts us, until Jesus Comes Again.
Praise to You Blessed and Holy Trinity, Three Persons, One God,
As it was in the Beginning, is Now, and Ever shall be, World without end. Amen.”
The Collect for Trinity Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God, Who has given to us Your humble servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and in the power of Your Divine Majesty to worship the Unity ; We ask You, that You would keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, Who Lives and Reigns, One God, world without end. Amen.
For The Epistle. Revelation 4:1-11
4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
The Holy Gospel of St John 3:1-16
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Bishop Ian’s Thoughts
Today’s Reading for the Epistle is from the Book of the Revelation Chapter 4. Verses 1-11
The Book of Revelation begins:
“1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
It is generally accepted by most scholars that the Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John in about 96 AD, as he spent his last years, in exile, on the island of Patmos.
The Apostle John was exiled to Patmos as part of the general persecution, of the Christian Church, that broke out in the closing years of the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian.
St John received his Revelation in a series of Visions given to him by God, and St John, in turn, wrote them down in his Book of the Revelation.
Today’s Reading for the Epistle begins at the Fourth Verse of Chapter Four of the Book of the Revelation and details the Vision, given to St John, of the Throne of God in Heaven.
St John, in his Vision, saw “a door standing open in Heaven.” Out of this door a loud and piercing voice called St John to come up to Heaven and be shown “what must take place after this":
“1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
The Voice that St John heard was the Voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, raised from the dead and exalted to the Right Hand of God, and given all Might, Majesty, and Dominion over all things.
St John was instantly translated to Heaven “in the Spirit” (an intense ecstatic vision) and he beheld God seated on His Throne:
"2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne."
The Throne, first glimpsed by St John, is an important feature as it places our Almighty God at the centre of Heaven and indicates that He has Absolute control over all things, both on earth and in Heaven.
God’s appearance was concealed by a cloud of Glorious Radiance and Beauty that was likened to the rich green of the most precious Jasper, and the brilliant red of Ruby.
The Cloud that concealed God was not like an ordinary cloud but had the appearance of a dazzling rainbow. The rainbow was the sign, of God’s Covenant with Noah, after the flood, that He would never again send a great flood upon the earth.
This Covenant with Noah is recorded in the Old Testament Book Genesis Chapter 9, Verses 8-17:
“8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
God always used a cloud to conceal his appearance when He appeared to the People of Israel in Old Testament times.
St John then saw twenty four thrones surrounding the Throne of God, and upon them sat twenty four Elders, dressed in white and having golden crowns on their heads:
"4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads."
These twenty four Elders are Angelic Beings and it is thought by many scholars that they represent the twelve tribes of ancient Israel of the Old Testament and the twelve Apostles of the New Testament. This view of the Elders unites, and binds, the people of God from both eras of God’s Covenantal relationship with His People.
St John then tells of his Vision of God’s Throne with its Mighty Glory described in terms of brilliant lightning rumbling and peals of thunder. These are earthly manifestations of great power and might, easily recognisable to the common man of St John’s time, and so are appropriate to convey the Majesty and Dread (great awe) of God’s Presence.
"5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder."
St John then describes seeing seven lamp stands burning in front of Gods’ Throne. These are revealed to be the seven spirits of God:
"In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God."
St John also describes what appears to be a sea, or body of water that looked like a sheet of crystal clear glass:
"6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal."
We are not told that it is water or glass, however some scholars suggest that it represents the water that is above the Firmament of Heaven, described in the Creation Narrative of Genesis Chapter 1 Verses 6-8:
"6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day."
St John then describes what he saw surrounding God’s Throne:
"In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
St John’s Vision of the four Living Creatures surrounding God’s Throne recalls the vision given to the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel and recorded in his Book, Chapter 1 Verses 1-28:
“1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians There the hand of the Lord was on him.
4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The centre of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. 23 Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.”
The description of the Living Creatures by St John and the Prophet Ezekiel are very similar and although they differ in some details they obviously relate to the same Angelic Beings that attend God around His Throne. These Angelic Beings also serve, praise, and glorify God.
The Living Creatures’ main function is to guard the Throne of God. They also give special praise and glory to God, and in communion with the Seraphim, Ophanim, Cherubim, and all God’s Holy Angels they continually serve God and carry out His Decrees as commanded.
The faces of the Living Creatures are representative of a particular part of God’s creation of living things. The man is of mankind, the lion is of beasts, the eagle is of birds, and the ox is of cattle.
St John tells us that whenever the Living Creatures give Praise to God, the twenty four Angelic Elders fall down before God’s Throne and Lay their Golden Crowns down before the Throne as a sign of renunciation of their authority, in submission to, and in acknowledgement of, the absolute Authority and Dominion of Almighty God over all things:
“9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
The Vision of Heaven given to St John reveals to us that our God is the absolute Creator and Ruler of all things both in Heaven and in Creation. Every aspect and detail of our individual lives and the world in which we live is under the authority of our Holy Triune God Who Rules His Creation from His Throne in Heaven.
We have a Heavenly Father Who Loves us, a Holy Saviour Who Died to reconcile us to our Holy Father and a Mighty Holy Spirit who takes of the things of our Holy Saviour and reveals them to us.
Let us give thanks to our Almighty, Holy, and Blessed God Who has revealed Himself to us as The Holy Trinity, and has shown us, through His Holy Apostle St John, the Power and Great Glory that attends our Holy God and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Mighty Holy Spirit. Let us also give thanks that our Mighty Triune God will soon subdue all things under His Eternal Rule in His Great and Glorious Everlasting Kingdom. Amen.
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading is taken from the Holy Gospel of St John Chapter 3, Verses 1-16.
St John opens this portion of his Holy Gospel with the account of the Lord Jesus’ meeting with a man named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, known as the Sanhedrin:
"3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council."
The Sanhedrin was the judicial body before which the Lord Jesus would stand on the night of His arrest.
To be a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus must have been a Pharisee. The Pharisees did not embrace the teaching of the Lord Jesus and were often the most bitter of His enemies.
Many times the Pharisees conspired to discredit, or trap the Lord Jesus with His own words.
They always failed.
It is no wonder that Nicodemus came to see the Lord Jesus, by himself and at night. It would not go well for Nicodemus to be seen consulting a Teacher who was openly critical of the Sanhedrin.
Nicodemus visited the Lord Jesus and made an admission that the Lord Jesus was a teacher sent from God proved by the miracles that the He had performed:
“2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
The Lord Jesus replied that no one could see the Kingdom of Heaven unless they were born again. The Lord Jesus was, of course, referring to a spiritual rebirth:
"3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
Nicodemus was stunned, and his confusion was shown in his response when he asked how a person could be physically reborn from their mother’s womb:
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
The Lord Jesus again told Nicodemus that it is necessary for a person to be born of the Spirit to see, and enter, God’s Great Kingdom:
"5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The Lord Jesus uses the example of the wind - it is heard and felt, but where it comes from or goes to is unknown. It is interesting that the Greek word for wind is also the word for spirit.
Just like the wind, the Holy Spirit works what He will and where He will, without prior consultation with any man.
In answer to this statement, by the Lord Jesus, Nicodemus has no understanding:
“9 How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.”
The Lord Jesus is incredulous at Nicodemus’ astounding lack of understanding and declares:
“10 You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?”
The Lord Jesus then rebuked Nicodemus and told him that despite God’s Authentication, by Miraculous Signs, of the Lord Jesus’ Ministry with His Disciples, the Jewish Religious leaders and their people did not believe His earthly work, so how could they believe in Heavenly things:
“11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
The Lord Jesus then declared to Nicodemus that He had first-hand knowledge of the things of Heaven as He had come from Heaven, and would shortly return to Heaven:
"13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man."
The Lord Jesus used the title “Son of Man” to describe Himself. This term was a well understood title that related to the Great Messiah (Mighty Deliverer) whom God had Promised to send to the nation of Israel to restore their fortunes and establish them as a great nation forever.
The Lord Jesus concluded His conversation with Nicodemus by foretelling of His Crucifixion, following a sham trial and an illegal sentence of the Sanhedrin.
The Lord Jesus then likened His coming Crucifixion to the brazen serpent that Moses lifted up in the midst of ancient Israel, on whom God, as a punishment for their unbelief had sent a plague of snakes, that all who looked upon it would be saved from snakebite and live:
"14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
The Old Testament Book of Numbers records the brazen serpent in Chapter 21, Verses 4-9:
“4 They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."
Just as those ancient Israelite sinners, bitten by snakes, could look at the brazen serpent (trust in God) and be saved, so sinners, in Nicodemus’ time, and in our own time, who are “bitten by Satan” and are in desperation, can look upon the Crucified Christ and believe in His Holy Gospel, and will mercifully receive forgiveness of their sins from God, and be saved from His Great Judgement.
Our Holy Gospel reading concludes with what is regarded as the most important, and most beautiful verse in the Holy Bible. John records the Blessed Declaration of the Lord Jesus:
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
These words of the Lord Jesus perfectly describes the Holy Gospel and it’s inestimable Blessing for all God’s faithful people.
Let us always give great thanks to our Loving God who has given us, through the Mighty Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Holy Gospel of His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem us from the punishment of sin, and to make us the adopted children of God and heirs of His Everlasting Kingdom.
In closing I would like to leave you with the words of an Irish Hymn, St Patrick’s Breastplate, translated and adapted by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander in 1889, from an ancient Gaelic poem, St Patrick’s Lorica. The Lorica was an ancient mystical garment believed, by the ancient Irish people, to provide spiritual protection to the wearer.
This Hymn declares St Patrick’s devotion to the Holy Trinity and I feel it is a most inspiring hymn of Praise and Trust in our Most Holy and Powerful Triune God;
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of Cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my Salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen.
Bishop Ian