Trinity Sunday (18 May 08)

Its Trinity Sunday, where we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit - 3 distinct Person, yet One God).

Today, I brought Natalie down to the children reading. This is where the children gather for the readings, so that they could do some activity together and learn about today's reading in a simpler, easier to understand way. Generally the readings & homily at mass is meant more for adults and for reflections.

This is my first time bringing Natalie there. Usually its Georgia who brought Natalie and helped in the activities, so Its quite a good experience. The grouped are split into the pre-school, yr 1&2 and the older children. No prizes as to where 3 1/2 yr old Natalie belongs to...;) Its quite an interesting session. How could anyone make such a mystery simple enough for the young children to understand?

Imagine you are at your birthday and you receive birthday cards from your parents, brothers, sister, uncles & aunties. The cards would be addressed to you but in different terms. (Eg. your parents will write "Dear Son/Daughter"; your brother/sisters will write "Dearest Bro/sis"; and uncles/aunties will write "Dear Nephew/Niece") in the same way we call God "Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit" but they refer to the same God.

God the Father is our creator and loving Father; God the Son, Jesus, who died on the cross to save us, resurrected and is now with the Father in heaven (Jesus show us the way to live and the path to God); and the God the Holy Spirit, who is with us to guide us and lead us from doing wrong things. They are like the 3 points in a triangle. Without the points, the triangle is just a blob.

Next a demonstration of ice, water and stream. Water exists in 3 states, solid, liquid and gas. God exists as 3 distinct persons, yet is still God.

Finally, a demonstration of an egg. The egg consists of 3 parts, the shell; the egg york & the egg white. Without one of the parts, the remaining will not be an egg.

The children then got to paste 3 paper of "God the Father"; "God the Son" & "God the Holy Spirit" onto a clover leaf and colour them.


Quite a simplistic view to explain what the trinity is, but i found it a fascinating way for young children to understand God more.

Georgia told me, during homily, Fr. said that we be like the God whom we worship. Since our God is Love, we also should become more loving.

The doctrine of the Trinity is indeed a mystery to us all, but I believe as the church teaches that God is the loving God who create and sustain us. Jesus is true God & true man. He is not just a great prophet or an enlightened man only. He is God, who chose to be born of human flesh to die and bring us closer to God the Father. When He rose to heaven, he didn't leave us alone in this world. He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, to strengthen us in trials, to do the right things and lead us back to God. The Holy Spirit also protects the catholic church and ensure it still stands, as promised by Jesus. Catholic answers here shows what was written about the Trinity.

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512frs.asp