ROSEMARY Theobalds, a member of St Mary’s RC Church, comments on John 16 v12-15.

“AND he departed from our sight that we might return to our hearts and there find him for he departed, and behold, he is here.”

These simple words lead us through the great Christian festivals of Ascension and Pentecost to Trinity Sunday, celebrated in churches this weekend.

The short passage from John’s Gospel chosen for today gives us tender words from Jesus to his close friends while he was still with them: “I still have many things to say to you, but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth.”

We most commonly use the term Holy Spirit of the third person of the Trinity, but we see here that Jesus calls him the Spirit of Truth. In other words, our hearts will recognise truth when we hear it, and we will be drawn into its embrace.

The Spirit makes possible the circle of three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit into which we are all invited, as into a welcoming dance.

The new film, Risen , starring Joseph Fiennes as a Roman tribune, tells the story of a man who makes the journey from being a persecutor of Christ to one of the first believers.

Fiennes, reflecting on his role in the film says, “It is amazing how a non-believer is caught up in God’s plan. That makes me think that maybe all of us, whether believers or unbelievers or unsure, are part of this same great mystery, and one day we will find out how we were all part of it.”

Amen to that.