Trinity: Perfect Unity

Allow me to begin with a question.  Is there any verse in the Bible that uses the word, “Trinity?”  There is not.  Allow me to ask a second question, if the word Trinity is never used does that mean there is no Trinity?  There is a way to answer this seemingly difficult question.  As Catholics we believe that within Scripture some of our beliefs are explicit, they are plainly stated, i.e. Jesus is the Son of God, Mary is full of grace, etc.  Then there are other beliefs which we hold that are only implicitly stated in Scripture, they are within the text but one must put together varying texts that speak on the subject, i.e. the Trinity, God the Father is referred to as God, so too is Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit.  Our beliefs also develop over time after much reflection on the original deposit of faith (Sacred Scripture) which we believe to be Sacred Tradition. Jesus told the Apostles, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But, when He comes the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all Truth.” (John 16:12-13)

Therefore as Christians we believe in the Trinity but I think we have to answer some misconceptions first.  We do not believe in three gods, nor do we believe in one God who manifested Himself differently in different ages, i.e. First as the Father in the Old Testament, then as the Son in the New Testament, and then after the Ascension as the Holy Spirit.  Plainly put the definition for the Trinity is we believe in one God who is three distinct divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It is also important to remember that the persons of the Trinity are referred to as persons, i.e. the Father, the Son, and even the Holy Spirit.  Jesus uses pronouns when referring to the Spirit, He uses the word, “He.”  So now that I have you all bogged down and confused with the deep theology regarding the Trinity allow me to simplify it.  St. Augustine described the Trinity as “God is love, Jesus is the lover, and the Holy Spirit is the love shared between them.”  It is a perfect and eternal relationship of love, “For God is love.”

If the Trinity is a perfect community of persons then that means that they are also perfectly one, there is no division or competition between them.  One is not less than or great than the other, perfect harmony as they say.  If you recall just a couple of weeks ago Jesus’ great prayer was, “Father I pray that they be one as you and I are one.”  So then, if we are made in the image and likeness of God (the ability to reason and to choose), and also given grace by God, are we not also required or called to be in perfect harmony with one another?  As I said, two weeks ago the Gospel reading was about us being “one.”  I did not preach on that because it was Mother’s Day and I wanted to keep it focused on mothers and on Mary, but this allows me to go back to that notion of “oneness” or unity.

The questions can go further and deeper.  Are we one in our own families, are we one in our parish, are we one in the Universal Church, and most important are we one with God.  Sometimes because of sin we are divided within our own families, usually over money, inheritance, issues of respect, etc.  In our local communities sometimes we are divided over the merges, the merge of our former parishes still has some people upset and doffing in their heels.  Some are upset and divided with the Church on a universal or institutional level because of disagreements over morality and other teachings.  On occasion we are also divided against God, those times when we are angry with Him, have given up, when we blame God for our situations, etc.

Jesus prayed knowing our human weakness asking the Father in advance to heal us and to never forget us even when we divide ourselves from family, Church, and God.  Jesus is too good to us.

I ask that  when you have the opportunity at home later today or sometime during the week that you reflect on the Trinity, not so much trying to figure it out theologically, rather reflecting on the perfect unity between Father, Son, and Spirit and asking God to help you to be perfect in your own unity with everyone.  Jesus said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  He did not mean only holiness, but perfect unity as well.  God bless you, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.