Dt 4:32-34, 39-40
Rom 8:14-17
Mt 28:16-20

Living the Mystery

Each year we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. This feast is the greatest and most profound mystery of our faith. We are taught that there are three persons in one God. This is a mystery we cannot truly understand but believe as a matter of faith. Every time we make the sign of the cross we honor our Trinitarian God. Every time a child or adult is baptized, she or he is marked with holy oil in the name of the Trinity. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “by sending [God’s] only Son and the Spirit of Love in the fullness of time, God has revealed [God’s] innermost secret: God [own self] is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and [God] has destined us to share in that exchange” (no. 221).

Our responsibility as baptized Christians may not be to fully comprehend this mystery, but rather, to imitate the loving union of our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. We need to remind ourselves that not only is God the Creator of our world but that God so totally loves us that God sent His only Son to draw us into His presence. The Son loves us so much that he gave his life for us so that we live life fully. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to be God’s presence working on earth. With the Holy Spirit around, no one is ever alone. God, through the Holy Spirit, is always with us. 

St Augustine says of the Trinity, “The Father is the lover. The Son is the loved one. And the Holy Spirit is the love they send forth.” 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all our deeds, that is, all our thought, words and actions each day were done because of our deep, intimate relationship with our Triune God? There would be no mystery as to why we act the way we do. It would be clear that God is the center of our lives. 

It’s no mystery to know that a deep relationship with God takes work. It takes time for personal and communal prayer. It takes times for scripture and reflection. It takes time to put that relationship into practice on a daily basis. It takes faith to believe that our Trinitarian God truly loves us and is present to us. All of this helps us accept mystery in whatever form it takes. 

How can you become more aware of the Trinity in your life?

In what ways do your words and actions show love as your motivation for living life fully?