THE BLESSED TRINITY: MODEL OF COMMUNION AND COLLABORATION

Today we have a solemnity that is central to our Christian faith and the foundation of all doctrines—the Blessed Trinity. We celebrate our belief that there are three persons in one God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Father is distinct from the Son, and the Son is distinct from the Holy Spirit who, in turn, is different from the Father. They are not three Gods but only One God in three divine and distinct persons.  This is a belief and a mystery upheld by almost all Christians.

Our Christian spirituality is rooted in belief in the Blessed Trinity. We begin our prayers with an invocation of the Blessed Trinity. Precisely at Mass, we begin and end with the mention of the Trinity. We are familiar with the greeting: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. This Pauline greeting which is incorporated into the Holy Mass reveals the Trinitarian nature of our liturgical prayers. Similarly, the doxology at the end of the Eucharistic prayer—through Him, with Him and in Him, O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever, piquantly captures our belief in the Triune God.

One basic lesson the Trinity teaches us is that our God is relational. He is a ‘Being-in-relationship’ and not a loner. God is family and a community of love. The Father knows the Son just as the Son knows the Father. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son and the bond of their unity.  In the trinitarian relationship, the Father knows what the Son is doing, the Son knows what the Father is doing, and the Holy Spirit also knows what the Father and the Son are doing. Wherever one is, the rest are always present, when any one of the persons of the Trinity is called upon, all rise in majesty. In the economy of salvation, God revealed himself as the Father and creator of all things. In Creating the world, the Father did not create it alone. He did it through the Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God also revealed himself as the Son and redeemer of mankind. The redeemer accomplished his redemptive work in collaboration with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Again, God revealed himself as the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, and the Sanctifier. The Spirit proceeds from and is of both the Father and the Son.

We need to imitate the unity, love, and relationality of the triune God in our family lives and Christian communities. Just as the success of human salvation is the collaborative work of the Trinity, our communities and families will experience more progress if we learn to work together, playing our various but interconnected roles in the betterment of our lives and those of others. The actions of the triune God are focused on God’s desire to be near us, engaging us and shaping us to be a holy people. The bond which unites the persons of the triune God is also the bond extended to us. It is the bond of love which we ought to emulate in our communities and families. We are to remember always that fraternal communion is a gift from the Triune God and ought to be cherished and desired by all Christians.

We can learn to work together and never desire to ‘walk alone’. Soccer enthusiasts, especially fans of the English soccer club Liverpool understand the relevance of the club’s anthem—you will never walk alone. This gives them hope in adversity. They consider themselves (fans, players, and other workers) as a team that must work and walk together to achieve their dreams as a club. We all feel good and confident when we know that we are in the company of a loved one or people who bless us with their presence and support. The rough edges of our lives are lubricated by the presence of loved ones whose presence constitutes not a burden but a meaningful support to us. We are better at being relational than feeling isolated. The gift of companionship is what we have received from God. Our God is a relational Being—a community of divine persons that interact with one another and with us. If the Father does not “work alone”, same with the Son and Holy Spirit, why would any of us want to work and walk alone? The popular adage that teamwork makes the dream realized is worth adopting by all. The relationality within the persons of the Triune God is a model for Christian families. We achieve more and our accomplishments are better and greater when we collaborate than when we try to be on our own.

May the unity, communion, and love of the Blessed Trinity continue to inspire our community life as we reach out to one another in love and support.  

Ackermann Playlot Playdates 

Come check in with your friends this summer.  There will be an informal meet up for families on the playlot on June 8, July 13 and August 13 at 10am. Bring a cup of coffee and a juice box to catch up with friends.

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