Trinity Sunday Confirmation Eucharist: St Mary’s, Portsea

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, Jn 3:1-8

I would like to describe my own life from three different influences – all of them very important to me.

The first is my parents. I knew both my father and my mother. They were the people who brought me into this world, and they remained strong influences – not without tensions here and there – as long as they lived. I know that not everyone grew up with two living parents, or parents they knew at all. And others again are adopted, or fostered. But the notion of parenthood is still important to them.

The second is my brother and sister. We grew up together. We didn’t always get on. I’ve had more to do with them during my recent illness. Having them around shaped my childhood. But again, many people do not have siblings. So for them – as well as for me – friendships made not just when we are young are very important, too. I met someone in the school playground at the age of seven, and we are still close at the age of sixty!

The third influence is life itself. What life brings, good and bad, easy and difficult. I have to meet new challenges, like falling in love, or facing danger. I watch others cope with steep learning curves, like a new job, or not having a job at all. I also notice how those challenges can deepen their faith, and deepen their trust in God.

And that is where Trinity Sunday comes in. We can speak of God in those three ways. He – or she, or it – is a Father, a Mother, a parent, who brings us into the world. God is a brother, a sibling, a friend, who lives alongside us, providing an example, a model for how we should live – in Jesus Christ. And God is the strong and powerful influence that shapes our lives, that helps us to grow in faith, and face every fresh challenge, joyful or tough.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the language we use in worship, and the hymns we sing as well.

But today’s gospel provides some further encouragement. It is about a man called Nicodemus, a wealthy and influential Jew, who came to Jesus by night. Why? Probably because he was afraid of being seen, and shy about speaking with him. We can meet Jesus in broad daylight, with other people – as we are at the moment at this eucharist. But we can also meet him on our own, in private, without anyone else being around. He will listen to our questions, our fears, our concerns – and help us to follow him.

+ Kenneth Portsmouth