Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Year C, Year of Faith
May 26, 2013
First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15
Many great theologians wanted to define it or describe Trinity with no success, like for
example of St. Augustine of Hippo, he tried but he was not successful to define
it. As what a little boy, who appeared
to him in one of the legends of his life, said that it is impossible to put all
the waters of the sea to the small hole dug in the sand at the seashore. The theologians gave only some indications
and/or vestiges of the Holy Trinity. The
English word "Trinity" is
derived from Latin "Trinitas," meaning
"the number three, a triad." This abstract
noun is formed from the adjective "trinus" (three each,
threefold, triple), as the word "unitas" is the abstract noun
formed from "unus" (one).
The corresponding word in Greek is "Τριάς," meaning
"a set of three" or "the number three."
The first recorded use of this word Trinity in Christian theology (though not about the Divine Trinity)
was by Theophilus of
Antioch, a Greek
theologian, in about 170. Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early 3rd century,
is credited as being the first to use the Latin words "Trinity,"
"person" and "substance" to explain that the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit are "one in
essence—not one in Person."
It was in the 4th century AD that the Church Fathers in the Council of
Nicene, after long discussions about the nature and person of the Trinity
finally settled about the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity – as Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, One God in Three Persons, which we now professed in the Nicene
Creed.
Even some biblical scholars who were trying to capture
the images of the Holy Trinity in the Old and New Testaments did not find the
word about the Holy Trinity and even its exact meaning except of some hints
about it. For, even in our gospel reading
for this Sunday Mass, it was not mentioned the Holy Spirit but the Spirit of
truth. In the first and second readings,
the Holy Spirit was not mentioned except the Spirit. They just systematized the biblical texts in
the following sequence:
7.
The Father is not the Spirit (Luke
3:21-22)
Only
in the recent times, the Trinity was defined and described, though in a limited
sense of its understanding and meaning, for, how can you define and describe
the mystery of God?
Our Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God as three divine persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy
Spirit; is “one God in three divine persons.” The
three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or
nature"(Fourth
Lateran Council quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 253). A nature
of God refers to what one is,
while a divine person of God refers to who one is.
The Trinity is considered to be a mystery of Christian faith. According to this doctrine, there is
only one God in three divine persons. Each person is God, whole and entire.
They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: as the Fourth
Lateran Council declared, “it is the Father who
generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds.”
While distinct in their relations with one another, they are one in all else.
The whole work of creation and grace is a single operation common to all three
divine persons, who at the same time operate according to their unique
properties, so that all things are from the Father, through the Son and in the
Holy Spirit. The three persons are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, the
Dogma of the Holy Trinity. See also Wikipedia, on the Trinity).
In any case, for me as what I believe, what is important is what Jesus (God
the Son), is leaving behind us, his Spirit of truth (God the Holy Spirit), sent
by God (God the Father). Jesus has many
things to say and teach to us, “I have much
more to tell you, . . .” (John 16:12), but
his time is very limited and short here on earth. He is going back to his Father in Heaven very
soon. Besides, we, his disciples, cannot
fathom and grasp totally the wisdom, knowledge, the heights and depths, widths
and lengths of the love of Jesus for us all, in this very short time “. . . but you cannot bear it now” (John 16:12). As
what he was always saying and constantly promised to us that he is leaving us,
but not abandoning us like orphans, and forgetting us. He was always saying that, “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will
guide you to all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit of truth, the Advocate
(Paraclete), will be the one who will make them known everything that Jesus
taught and deed. He will not say things different or concerning other truths
that are not explained by Jesus, or contradicts Jesus’ words and deeds. The
function of the Spirit will be to illuminate the words of Jesus, which he said
to his disciples. Jesus being absent bodily, his Spirit remains in our midst, and
accompanies us. The Spirit of truth will
be recalling and clarifying the meaning of his teachings. The Spirit will therefore become the teacher
who teaches in the hearts of the disciples all that came out of the teaching of
Christ, and will always make them see more clearly the hope in the future. The Spirit will help you discover the glory
of Jesus by discerning all that Jesus said.
The Spirit of truth “will not speak on his own, but he will speak
what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from
what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that
he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15).
Question(s) for Reflection:
1.
If you were asked to define the Doctrine or the Mystery of the Holy
Trinity, how would you define it?
2.
How would you describe it understandable to all people of different
faiths?
3. How can you define and describe the mystery
of God?
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