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The Mystery of the Trinity

by Fr. Paul Grankauskas

Other Articles by Fr. Paul Grankauskas
The Mystery of the Trinity
06/10/06


This could easily be the shortest Gospel Commentary ever: the Trinity is a mystery; end of story.

Of course, we know that there is much more to it than that. Jesus' command to the Apostles is to go out and teach as well as baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Here we have God revealing Himself as a communion of three divine Persons. Here we have God sharing with us the truth about Himself, revealing to us His real identity.

In the words of Pope John Paul II, "God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself fatherhood, sonship, and the essence of the family, which is love."

We might ask ourselves: What difference does the mystery of the Trinity make? It makes a big difference.

For one thing, we cannot love what we do not know. We do not make complete gifts of ourselves to total strangers. (Ask someone to marry a complete stranger and see how well that works.) God allows us to know Him intimately as He is — one God in three divine Persons. He reveals Himself to us as a divine family. In fact, He goes even further. He loves us so much, He invites us to be a part of that family. Just last week we celebrated Pentecost, recalling how the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the Upper Room. In our Baptism, we too were sealed with the Spirit. By virtue of our Baptism we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we can dare to call God "Abba" or Father. This means a Christian can never claim to be all alone in this world. We are part of a divine family.

Second, we are made in the image and likeness of God. We know that God is a communion of Persons. We who are made in His image and likeness are likewise made to be in relationship with God and with others. We are made to be communal beings. It is impossible for us to live in total isolation without doing some grave harm to our very being. We are made and meant to live for others. That is the nature of love and the nature of the God Who formed us in His image.

Finally, God is a family, a loving communion of Persons. We might look at a family, especially a large family, and sometimes see nothing but chaos, but we have to remember that a family is something sacred. A family is meant to be a communion of life and love modeled on the Trinity. It is in the family that we learn some important lessons about sharing, about being patient and forgiving. In the family, we become aware that we are always a part of a group larger than ourselves. There is no room for an arrogant individualism that can undermine family harmony. In other words, it is in the family that we learn how to practice a selfless, sacrificial love that is an image of the selfless love of the Trinity.

So what difference does one God in three Persons make? It makes a big difference. It tells us something about Who God is, and tells us something about ourselves, made in His image and likeness.


Fr. Grankauskas is parochial vicar at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax.

(This article courtesy of the
Arlington Catholic Herald.)


8 posted on 06/10/2006 11:28:13 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
The Work of God

Teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Catholic Gospels - Homilies - Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit

Year B

 -  Trinity Sunday

Teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Catholic Gospels - Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:16.20

16 And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And seeing Him they adored: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
19 Going therefore, teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Trinity Sunday - Teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Just before I ascended into Heaven, I summoned my Apostles to gather with me and receive my final instructions. As they saw me in my supernatural state, part human because of my physical appearance, and divine because I am God, they felt my Real Presence touching their hearts and souls, they felt the need to worship God. Some hesitated, because it is natural for human beings to use reason and create obstacles to their faith.

When you come to know me well, there is no doubt in your heart, your soul is always thirsty for the living God and you burn with desire to be with me, to listen to me, and to receive me sacramentally.

I confirmed to the apostles that authority had been given to me in heaven and on earth. I used that authority to command them, my infant Church, to proclaim the good news, and to make disciples of all nations, and to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God cannot be totally understood with the human mind, therefore I am the revelation of God the Father and I am also God the Son, we have sent the Holy Spirit to be our witness too.

In the beginning of creation, God my Father willed, God the Son spoke and God the Holy Spirit manifested our power. Everything came into existence and remains so until time comes to pass. God is one, we are one, and yet we are three different persons. The Father and I are one in the Love of the Holy Spirit. This is a mystery that will only be totally revealed in Heaven.

Many stumble trying to understand these heavenly mysteries because they resist the teachings of God, their reasoning leads them to pride, and only the humble can accept the truth and obtain great spiritual benefit.

In the Old Testament you have received the Testimony of the Father, who spoke through the prophets anticipating the things to come. In the New Testament I have come to be the light of the nations, to reveal the Father to everyone, to heal and redeem my people and to establish my Church.

After the day of Pentecost, My Church has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, I am the head of this mystical body and you are the members. You are separated physically but you are one with me in Spirit. You cannot see me with your physical eyes, but you can perceive me with the eyes of faith.

The promises I made to the Apostles, I make to you too, keep my commandments and teach others to do the same. And know that I will remain with you always, yes, until the end of time.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary


9 posted on 06/10/2006 11:32:05 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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