The Gospel of John, chapter 16:15

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity finds expression in chapter 16 of the gospel of John, and is the most central belief of Christians. Like all great truths of the faith, it is a mystery. Belief in the Trinity is obvious in Christ’s commissioning His disciples to bring the good news of the gospel to all peoples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It appears to me that the best way to gain an appreciation of the Trinity is to examine the implications of the three divine persons in our lives.

Firstly, God as Father embraces all of God’s children whether they be Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim or Agnostic. As believers in the Fatherhood of God, we are urged to respect and love all peoples irrespective of religious denomination, creed, social origin or background. God as Father reveals himself to us in nature; in the wonderful cycle of the seasons; in the gift of humanity; in the discoveries of the human intellect; in the divine light shining within us which we call—conscience. The Old Testament bible which deals with salvation history recounts the deeds of God the Father for His chosen people, culminating in the ten commandments.

Secondly, the second person of the Trinity which we find in the new testament; namely, Jesus Christ, the son of God, enables the Christian to offer a compelling and practical witness of his or her love of God. Since the Christian believes in Christ, he or she will be impelled to give expression to that belief by example modeled on the life of Christ. To follow Christ is to enlarge our appreciation of the Trinity by relating to each other is a deep and noble way. Christ came into this world to save us from sin and redeem our human nature.

Thirdly, the Holy Spirit, which I wrote about last week, raises our appreciation of the Trinity to another level. The Holy Spirit has been described by Christ in the gospels as the spirit of truth, who will teach us those things that we still must understand. The work of the Holy Spirit in the church is progressive and is related to the growth of the people of God in a deeper and more profound appreciation of the faith. We do not know everything there is to know about God because God is a mystery. The Holy Spirit is there to enlighten us whenever the need and occasion arises. This is a wonderful truth, a truth that should make us humble and grateful. The Holy Spirit is working in the people of God through the ecumenical movement by creating bridges between different faiths and denominations; through the social and healing ministry of the followers of Christ; and especially through the lives of good Christians who strive to understand Christ’s word better and apply it to their lives.

May our lives continue to reflect a deeper appreciation of the mystery of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Fr. Hugh Duffy