THE TRINITY
The Catholic Church celebrates this Sunday (June 3) the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity. Catholics and Protestants believe that there is only One God, but in God there are three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The truth is revealed by Christ when He said, "The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth...Everything the Father has is mine" (Jn 16:12-15). Jesus mentions two persons: the Spirit of Truth and his Father. Jesus is not the Spirit and the Spirit is not the Father. The three are distinct and separate persons, although eternally united. The Son (the Word) is co-eternal with the Father (God) (cf Jn 1:1-5). And the eternal, everlasting Love of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit.

Before Christ ascended into heaven He ordered His Apostles, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...(Mt 28:19). Here is expressed the co-equality of the three divine persons. When Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist "the Holy Spirit descended upon him (Jesus) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased" (Lk 3:21-22). When Christ was questioned by the high priest, "Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?", Jesus replied, "I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mk 14:61-62). Other verses that speak about Jesus as eternal God: "Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began" (Jn 17:5); "He is before all things" (He existed before his mother Mary and his foster father Joseph!); "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM'" (Jn 8:58). How can some say that Jesus is only a man?!? Jesus existed even before Abraham!

We Catholics pray, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord...I believe in the Holy Spirit...".

May the Holy Spirit enlighten all of us, but particularly those persons who do not believe in the Trinity, so that our faith in the Triune God move us ever more to participate in the loving, redeeming, and inspiring life of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So be it!

Tags: trinityPrev: Mary, Queen of the Apostles
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