The Most Holy Trinity

06-06-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

Dear Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is difficult for many people to understand or accept. The Church teaching states that there are three distinct persons in one God but with one nature. Not three Gods, but one God, manifesting himself in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery; a mystery is something we cannot fully understand. We may have an idea or awareness, but we cannot truly explain it to ourselves or others. One of the most common analogies that illustrates the nature of three persons in one God is water. Water can exist in the form of solid ice, liquid or vapor. Each form can be converted to the other, but it remains the same water. Although not a perfect analogy, this gives us an idea of the nature of the Trinity.

We are made in God’s image and likeness. Just as God reveals himself to us in a trinitarian relationship, so also must our true faith be manifested in a trinitarian dimension - the horizontal relationship with others and the vertical relationship with God. This shows that our faith is not an individual property. It cannot survive without our connection with God and our neighbors within the Church community.

In light of the current protests all over the country over the tragic murder of an unarmed man, George Floyd by the police, the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity challenges us all to re-examine how we value our relationship with God and our interdependence on everyone in our community. We are all sons and daughters of one God and every human life is precious. Violence of any form will disappear from our society only when we all value each other and love one another unconditionally regardless of who we are or where we come from, just as God does.

Thank you and remain blessed,

Fr. James