The Trinity Sunday, together with the Sundays (ranging between twenty three and twenty six following it), constitute the Trinity tide. Trinity tide, also known as Trinity Season, is not a season for commemoration of any event, but a time for enactment and nourishment of faith; a time for systematic consideration and teaching of different elements of our faith. It is a special period in the Church Year, when the basic and distinct tenets of Christianity are brought to sharp focus. It begins with the Trinity Sunday, when the doctrine and mystery of the Holy Trinity are deliberated on and celebrated. The rest of the Sundays of the season, called “Sundays After Trinity”, which cover almost half of the year, are devoted to systematic and comprehensive teachings of the Faith for the balanced nourishment and growth of the Christian after the likeness of Christ, hence the liturgical colour of the Sundays after Trinity is Green, which signifies life and blossoming of vegetation.
The church is prompted in the Trinity tide to conform her life to the truth set out in the commemorative seasons of the first half of the year. As Christians, we are not only to know that our salvation is in Jesus Christ, but we ourselves must also become like Him. Religion is about both belief and practice. The emphasis in Trinity tide is on the transformation of our lives by and through the love of God. The Collects in the period are prayers for divine help and guidance to enable us bring forth the fruits of Christianity. We seek to understand our faith in a way that shows us how we can become more charitable, compassionate, humble, and patient. The Sunday lessons are concerned with the practical life of God’s Kingdom within us, as individuals and among us as a Christian community.
The Venerable Dr Princewill Onyinyechukwu Ireoba is the Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
