Today, in the Church, we look at the nuisances of the mystery of the Holy Trinity and reflect on our own ontological nature as being made in His image as human beings. While it is impossible to fully understand the mystery of the Trinity and God-head that are one in three, yet three in one through their filial relationship to one another; we can learn the lessons from scripture.
Paul’s epistle to the Romans chapter 8 verses 14-17 indicates that we are called to share in the adoption of the Spirit of God by being “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” The mystery of Jesus’s hypostatic union of human flesh being joined together with God the Father is another mystery that bears some fruit. It is through the culmination of His passion, suffering and resurrection made manifest by His paying the ultimate sacrifice on a cross that reflects our own human creation mystery story. As human beings, we may recall the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis with the first and second creation stories. We know that our imperfect human nature and fall from His grace resembles our own mystery that should be sorted out. Paul does not shy away from the fact that the Christian life is one that is not easy with trial and tribulation being a given in order to share in that adoption of God the Abba (Father).
The Holy Trinity as expressly mentioned Matthew’s Gospel chapter 28 recalls the mission for the 11 disciples to go out to all nations “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In order for us to truly understand the mystery and divine nature of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, we should turn to ourselves to understand our place within the area of salvation history and revel in who we are as human beings. The image of the Holy Trinity mosaic as displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has an image of God the Father offering an outstretched hand to Jesus, His Son, with the image of the Holy Spirit pouring forth above them in the image of a dove.
In some sense, we must offer our outstretched hand to God the Father in times of trouble. We must always remember as Catholic Christians to never shy away from the sign of the cross as a mystery that is inclusive of our mission to partake in that mystery of His infinite and filial love as displayed with His Son who taught us what such a mystery was all about.
In Saint Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem Father Son and Spirit section number 9, we see that with this mandate to baptize others with the Trinitarian formula, “it gives sanctifying grace as a supernatural gift to man.” “Through grace, man is called and made capable of sharing in the inscrutable life of God.” (Retrieved May 30, 2021 https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_18051986_dominum-et-vivificantem.html).
Let us always try to acknowledge and be accepting of such graces that may come to us in our life and cherish the Sacrament of our own baptism and baptismal promises. We should never lose sight of the fact that through this great mystery of the Holy Trinity is the knowledge that the mysterious relationship of three persons in one is love made eternal for each and every one of us no matter what crosses we bear on this earthly realm.
StreetEvangelist 