31st May 2026
Reflection with readings below
Today is Trinity Sunday when, having focused on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, Jesus’s relationship with God as Father, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Church celebrates the interconnectedness of these differentiated persons or facets of God. But in fact today’s readings perhaps focus more on the relationship between God, humanity and creation.
The reading from Isaiah is an often overlooked creation story. In this telling humankind is over-egging it’s importance in the whole process. Through the words given by the prophet Isaiah, God challenges humankind to reconsider their importance as significant agents in the creation of the wonders that constitute Earth.
The alternative first testament reading given today is that of the creation story in Genesis 1. Like today’s psalm, that passage talks about God giving humankind ‘dominion’ over every living thing – plants and animals – that God had created. This same word also features in Psalm 8 but it is prefaced by words that challenge humankind to reconsider their importance in the far grander scale of creation.
What might it mean for humanity to be given (given not earnt) dominion of all living things? What is doesn’t do is give any one – or group thereof – human the right to exercise dominion over other humans. Rather we are commanded (in both first and second testaments) to love our neighbours as ourself.
The question of dominion as humanity’s role as expressed in Genesis 1 or as servant and guard as expressed in Genesis 2 was the subject of much email discussion within Green Christian. The conclusion seemed to be that in being given the role of dominion, humankind was being asked to enact dominion in the way that God does – for humans were created in the image of God for this purpose. Dominion is therefore not about imposing our will on all living things but God’s will. It is to honour the role that the ground and the waters play in bringing forth life. It is not about controlling gather human beings, nor is it about creating boundaries that divide the earth – no ‘This is my land’, no ‘This is my gold mine’, no ‘This is my water.’
The words from Isaiah, ‘Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand’ brings to mind Deborah Colvin’s description of the Thames drainage basin as a soup bowl. (This was at the Rivers of Spirit: Spirit of Rivers conference which I wrote about earlier). The Thames basin is like soup bowl with the South Downs and the Cotswolds forming the rim, while the bowl itself is filled with layers of different geological material channelling and absorbing water. The water derives from rain (and snow) that has fallen over the millennia. This bowl is vast unseen reservoir. The water comes to the surface via springs and rivers or can be tapped into via wells. As humans we extract water from the Thames basin for domestic use – washing, drinking etc – for agricultural irrigation and livestock, and for various industrial uses – something that in the future will expand if more data centres are built. Although we have had some drought years, the Thames basin has supplied our needs. However it is estimated that as our use of water expands we are likely to see a 5 billion litre per day shortfall by 2055.
Globally we are consuming fresh water at faster rate than rainfall, ice melt etc can replenish.
Humans may have been given dominion but it is not a licence to consume Willy-nilly nor is a magic wand with which to conjure up endless supplies of whatever we want.
Isaiah’s words suggest we humans need to show greater humility in the position we adopt vis a vis the earth’s resources and vis a vis God. Julian Allwood in his talk to Green Christian (1) about his book, Promise the Earth: A safe planet in good faith, spoke against the oft touted vision of new technology as the solution to climate change – it will not be available either in time or at scale to be of any use. His recommended solution is to show restraint and consume less. Simple, practical advise that reminds us that we humans part of, and are called to live responsibly within, God’s creation.
As Paul writes, “Put things in order … agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Isaiah 40.12-17,27-31
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
or as his counsellor has instructed him?
Whom did he consult for his enlightenment,
and who taught him the path of justice?
Who taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as dust on the scales;
see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.
Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
nor are its animals enough for a burnt-offering.
All the nations are as nothing before him;
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Green Tau 