Along with our Holy Communion, the lessons offer an interesting "double punch". The Epistle continues a basic theme of letting us know that we are indeed changed from what we used to be, and he uses the Roman-style adoption as an example. And in the Gospel, a warning about false prophets and false leaders, stories about which we can find in almost any newspaper. I could name names and give phone numbers from my own experience!

Another version of the "loaves and fishes" story, but with one difference: this time, they are in the wilderness with a big crowd of hungry people. But Jesus has no problem knowing what needs to be done, and doing it! This comes along with an epistle giving the same message that a certain training officer imparted on me as a young cadet: Hold on to what you've gained!

The lessons for the beginning of Trinity Season all seem to focus on some basic stuff, probably because the basics are hard to keep in focus if your daily like is like mine. And when Jesus tells people that their righteousness has to exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, what is he saying? Is he making it hard for us, or is he hinting that there is a better way?

Along with the Eucharist, a pair of readings that belong together. The Epistle is a continuation from the thoughts of last week's Gospel. And this week's Gospel shows what can be.

We all know people who seem to be living a daily "soap opera", and how much do they accomplish for themselves, or for anyone else? But if we understand what love and compassion are all about, we can get things done. And speaking of that, see how Simon Peter is called in the Gospel!

And here in the gospel lesson, we have what might be considered both a promise and a threat, depending on what people do with it. And, like so much, it can apply to us today, virtually every day.

A simple question which some might not like having to answer: Are you willing to be measured by the same measuring stick which you use to measure others?

All that, and Holy Communion too!

Along with our Holy Communion, a pair of readings that challenge us, because they deal with issues we face every single day. We begin with hearing the need for humility, and we end by seeing examples of people (scribes and Pharisees) who are so devoid of humility that they criticize Jesus for ministering to the people who need him most!

There's a lesson for all of us here, including me!

Here we see not only how Jesus came to give St Peter for a special role, but what God had to do to bring it off. The Gospel tells of how Peter's destiny was revealed to him, and the Epistle shows what had to be done to allow it to happen.

And the lesson here might be evident to some of us. If God has a real intent, is anyone going to be able to stay in God's way?

Trinity Sunday begins the time of teachings of Jesus' time on earth, and it begins with one of the most challenging Gospel stories. At least, challenging to us. It is the story of one of Jesus' encounters with Nicodemus, a major person in the society of that time, who had to visit Jesus at night. And what is so perplexing is what Nicodemus, like most of us, should have already known and understood.

When we speak of Pentecost or Whitsunday, what are we talking about? And what is this "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" that some folks keep talking about?

There are clues in the Bible to show that the Holy Ghost was always there from the beginning, just like the opening of John's gospel shows us that God's Son was there long before he was born as Jesus! The fact that they became obvious to us on particular days in ancient times does not mean that they came into existence at those times. And here is the real challenge of Pentecost!

The Epistle and Gospel for this Sunday give us some challenges that many people today seem to try to avoid. If you wonder, check your newspaper. At the time the Epistle was written, people thought that the end was coming perhaps in a matter of days, but we also know that Jesus said that onlt The Father knows. In the meantime, the Epistle tells us what we need to do in order to be ready, and even why. But is that happening?

In the Gospel reading, assurances of what is to come. The Comforter will bring truth, but that will cause them to be rejected by the many who seem to not want the real truth.

They tie together in a way that is highly relevant for our time.