Msgr. Joseph Prior
through Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted June 5, 2020
(See the Mass readings for the Solemnity of the most Holy Trinity, June 7, 2020.)
St. Augustine, one of the most influential theologians in the church, spent very nearly twenty years writing his wonderful work De Trinitate ("On the Trinity").
there's an old story about his reflections whereas engaged on the text. Augustine changed into jogging along the seashore in North Africa one day, taking into account the mystery of Trinity. He observed a small boy going backward and forward from the water to the dry seashore. As he approached, Augustine asked the boy what he became doing.
The boy replied: "i'm attempting to move the ocean into this gap."
"it is unattainable, my pricey boy, the ocean is just too huge to healthy into that complete," spoke back Augustine.
The boy then replied, "No more not possible than making an attempt to place the Trinity into words."
The story reflects the high-quality secret of God. Christians consider, in keeping with divine revelation, that God is three individuals in one God — a secret which may under no circumstances be thoroughly understood but however preferred and pondered.
St. Catherine of Siena once wrote in prayer: "You, oh everlasting Trinity, are a deep sea, into which the deeper I enter the extra I discover, and the more I discover, the more I are trying to find."
Our contemplation of God is the contemplation of the Trinity, a relationship greater basic than some other in all existence. This relationship is the relationship of affection.
Our gateway to the journey of this love is Jesus Christ, who in his very being "holds all advent collectively in himself" (cf. Col 1:17).
The Gospel passage for these days's Solemnity of the Holy Trinity is John 3:sixteen-17, which includes the famous quoteyou may additionally have viewed on posters at wearing activities: "God so loved the area that he gave his only Son, in order that everybody who believes in him could not perish but might have everlasting lifestyles."
everlasting lifestyles is lifestyles within the Trinity; it's divine lifestyles. Our baptism joins us to Christ Jesus and is our entry to everlasting lifestyles. He comes that we could have life, "and have it extra abundantly" (Jn 10:10). he is the "means, the fact and the life" (Jn 14:6). he is the one who shows us love: "There isn't any more desirable love than this, to lay down one's existence for one's friends" (Jn 15:13).
Jesus teaches us to name God "Father" (Mt 6:9). basically, he makes use of the term "Abba," which is an endearing term that in our subculture could be rendered "Daddy" (Mk 14:36). Jesus teaches us in regards to the Father, for Father and Son are one (Jn 10:30).
He guarantees and then pours out the Spirit, an adventure we simply celebrated on Pentecost. His final words in the world as he prepared to ascend to the father were: "Go hence to all the nations, baptizing them in the identify of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; train them every little thing I actually have commanded you and understand that I amwith you always except the end of the world" (Mt 28:18-20).
Our relationship with God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is one among under no circumstances-ending possibility. We enter through baptism, however the relationship grows and develops with time and energy.
brooding about the secret of God's love pulls us deeper and deeper within the mystery so that we need greater. The journey of God's love can not and on no account can be exhausted by way of human contemplation or expression. Its fullest awareness will come after we kneel before him as (in the phrases of the first Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation) "saints among the saints within the halls of heaven."
Jesus is the door by which we enter into this secret. it really is why our relationship with him via prayer and sacrament is so essential.
N.T. Wright, a widespread New testament student and Anglican bishop, turned into as soon as asked what can be his last words to his toddlers. He responded: "examine Jesus," and explained why: "The (grownup) who walks out of (the pages of the Gospels) to meet us is only primary and irreplaceable. he is at all times a shock. We on no account have Jesus in our pockets. he's at all times coming at us from distinctive angles … in case you are looking to understand who God is, look at Jesus. if you are looking to know what it capacity to be human, analyze Jesus. in case you need to recognize what love is, analyze Jesus. And go on looking until you're not just a spectator, however part of the drama that has him because the principal persona."
As we rejoice Trinity Sunday, we are as soon as once more invited via Him whom we celebrate, not to be observers or analysts, however to be individuals – participants in the divine life of love as the infants of God.
***
Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
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