12TH JUNE 2022
Proverbs 8:22-31/ Romans 5:1-5/ John 16:12-15
SHAMROCK, TRIANGLE OR FIRE
The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is a basic doctrine of Faith in Christianity, understandable not with our heads but with our hearts. It teaches us that there are three distinct Persons in one God, sharing the same Divine Nature, co-equal and co-eternal. The Catholic Church teaches that God is One. There is One God but three coeternal and consubstantial persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is one of the central affirmations about God.
Importance in Christian life: All prayers in the Church begin in the Name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity. All Sacraments are administered (we are baptized, confirmed, anointed, our sins are forgiven, our marriage is blessed, and our Bishops, Priests and Deacons are ordained) in the name of the Holy Trinity. Church bells ring thrice daily, reminding us to give glory to the Holy Trinity for the Incarnation of Jesus and His Redemption of all of us. We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the Name of the Holy Trinity. In all the Catholic Churches, we have holy water at the entrance for one to bless him/her self before entering the Church. We begin all our Prayers including the Holy Mass by invoking the Blessed Trinity to be present and we also end all our prayers by invoking the Blessed Trinity.
In the creed that we pray every Sunday and all Solemnities of the Church, we profess our faith in the Holy Trinity. The first part of the Creed is addressed to God the Father, Creator of Heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible. The second part is addressed to God the Son, who is begotten, not made, consubstantial with God the Father, and through him all things were made. In the creed, this second person of the Trinity is shown from whom he came to the world, through the power of the Holy Spirit, what he did and why he came and what he will be doing. The third part of the creed addresses the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity who is the giver of life. He proceeds from God the Father and God the Son. Through the same spirit the Prophets of old spoke. The final part of the creed talks about One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church formed by the action of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost day. And we become members of this Church through Baptism.
There is nowhere in the Holy Bible where the word HOLY TRINITY is categorically written. But there are many pointers in the Bible to the Trinity: Jesus meets His disciples before ascending and he instructs them to go to the whole and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. There are different chapters in the Bible that points to one or two persons of the Trinity. The biblical evidences of the Triune God are that there are vague and hidden references to the Trinity in the Old Testament. But the New Testament gives clear teachings on the Holy Trinity. First, at the Annunciation, God the Father sends His angel to Mary, God the Holy Spirit comes upon her, the Power of the Most High overshadows her, and God the Son becomes incarnate in her womb. Second, at the baptism of Jesus, when the Son receives baptism from John the Baptist, the Father’s Voice is heard, and the Holy Spirit appears as a Dove. Third, at the Ascension, Jesus gives the missionary command to his disciples to baptize those who believe, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Fourth, in John’s Gospel, chapters 15–18, we have a detailed account of Jesus’ teaching of the role of each Person of the Holy Trinity, that: God the Father creates and provides for His creatures; God the Son redeems us and reconciles us with God; and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, strengthens us, teaches us, and guides us to God. It is evident that there are different chapters in the bible that points to one or two persons of the Trinity
Different symbols are used in the explanation of the Trinity though none is conclusive. The example with the shamrock leaf which has three branches on one leaf, the example with the equilateral triangle having the three equal sides, some also use the analogy of the fire having the flame, the heat and the light.
Whenever we make the sign of the cross, we are invoking the Holy Trinity on ourselves. We are asking the Holy Trinity to protect us. This is why we make the sign of the cross just before a journey, while writing an exam, while entering a Church, while praying or even when we are about to eat. This gives us the assurance to commit ourselves to the Trinity in all that we do. It is a silent prayer of every Catholic.
Let us not be shy of making the sign of the cross, no matter where we are. Be it in a bus, in a restaurant, on the play field, with friends etc. We must be proud of being Catholics who invoke the Holy Trinity to be by our sides all the time. Making the sign of the cross should be done in reverence, not like driving away flies. I once was in a restaurant eating and a couple of ladies came in and their food was served, one of them attempted to make the sign of the Cross, and she made it as if she is driving away flies from her food. If you are proud of the God you serve, then be proud to make the sign of the Cross, invoking the Holy Trinity.
Let us revere ourselves and others because everyone is the temple of the Holy Spirit where all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity abide. May the firm conviction of the Trinitarian God abiding in us, be the source of hope, courage and strength. May the Holy Triune God bless you and your families Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!
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