Trinity
After Pentecost, we enter into that “long green season” of the Church known as Trinitytide. The Trinity season is the longest season of the Church having between twenty-two and twenty-seven Sundays.
Most seasons and feasts of the Church, such as Easter and the Ascension, commemorate historic events in the life of our Lord. But Trinity is different; it represents a theological doctrine of the Church. Trinity Sunday, which marks the beginning of the season, comes the Sunday after Whitsunday (Pentecost Sunday) and was introduced into the calendar c. 1000 A.D.
The Christian Calendar is a reflection of the life, faith, and teaching of the Church as the Church experiences the action of God in Her life. The first part of the Christian Year, Advent through Pentecost, celebrates the events of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus and prepares us for His second coming. The second part of the calendar celebrates the continuing work of Christ through His Holy Spirit in His Church.
The color of this season, manifested in the altar hangings and the priest’s vestments, is green. Green is the color of living, growing things, reminding us that as part of God’s creation we are constantly living, growing, and learning. As we live and grow we learn to become more like our Lord and we mature into fruitful Christians.
The God we worship and serve is the God of Creation. Not only did He create all things, but he is active in the world even now as He directs and sustains the created order. We are reminded of God’s work in the world, in history, in His Church, and in our daily lives during this Trinity season, which celebrates the revelation of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — to us.
Trinity is also a rich season of the saints of the Church. The liturgical colors (red and white) we use for saints days break up the stream of green during Trinity as we remember “greats” of the Church.
Trinity ends with the “Sunday next before Advent,” and once again the glorious cycle of the Christian Year completes itself.
Text by Donna Downen
