KNOWING THE TRIUNE GOD
June 11, 2017
By: Jose Miguel Pacheco
By: Jose Miguel Pacheco
Today the Church celebrates a feast in honor of the greatest mysteries of our faith, the Holy Trinity. It is perhaps the most mind-boggling question that Popes, theologians, saints and even philosophers have tried solving in the two thousand years of the Catholic Faith. It is a mystery, as many say, however, popular belief has it that mysteries are not to be known – these are things which can never be fully grasped by man and thus, must dismiss it instead. How can three be one? How can one consists three persons? Others dismiss the question as unsolvable, without putting thought to it. But the history of salvation tells otherwise.
Salvation History tells of God’s love story with humanity, how we were saved from the slavery of sin by the oblation of Christ on the cross. It is however, not only a narrative of how man is saved but also a narrative of God’s introducing himself to us. This story of our salvation reveals to us who God is and through this God invites us to know him more.
In the Old Testament, we see how God manifested himself to Moses through the Burning Bush, how through time he was known only as the “I am who am”. This great “I am” has promised the coming of a Savior who will redeem humanity. This came through Christ, the Son of God. But him, being the Son of God, did not mean that he is not God. Christ said that “I and the Father are one” – unity between him and the Father. In the public ministry of Christ in the New Testament, he revealed the fulfillment of the “I am”. Jesus said “I am the Bread of Life”, “I am the Light of the World”, “I am the Door”, “I am the Good Shepherd”, “I am the Resurrection and the Life”, “I am the Vine” - he shows continuity of the Father for the Father can be known through Christ! And the same Christ promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete who will guide the Church until the end of age, a mystery celebrated by the great feast of Pentecost.
Today’s Gospel has focused on the importance of Salvation History in understanding the Holy Trinity. We remember the words “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” which highlight today’s readings. The Trinity created a united salvific function – there is unity in the Holy Trinity, but each member of the Trinity are distinct in person – but they are only One historical God.
The Christian God is the Triune God. There are three persons – by which there is a distinction among the other, but they are One, united with love. God calls us to come to know him despite its complexity. God himself reveals to us inklings of this mystery and it is out of our love for him that we wish to come to know Father through the Son, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Salvation History tells of God’s love story with humanity, how we were saved from the slavery of sin by the oblation of Christ on the cross. It is however, not only a narrative of how man is saved but also a narrative of God’s introducing himself to us. This story of our salvation reveals to us who God is and through this God invites us to know him more.
In the Old Testament, we see how God manifested himself to Moses through the Burning Bush, how through time he was known only as the “I am who am”. This great “I am” has promised the coming of a Savior who will redeem humanity. This came through Christ, the Son of God. But him, being the Son of God, did not mean that he is not God. Christ said that “I and the Father are one” – unity between him and the Father. In the public ministry of Christ in the New Testament, he revealed the fulfillment of the “I am”. Jesus said “I am the Bread of Life”, “I am the Light of the World”, “I am the Door”, “I am the Good Shepherd”, “I am the Resurrection and the Life”, “I am the Vine” - he shows continuity of the Father for the Father can be known through Christ! And the same Christ promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete who will guide the Church until the end of age, a mystery celebrated by the great feast of Pentecost.
Today’s Gospel has focused on the importance of Salvation History in understanding the Holy Trinity. We remember the words “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” which highlight today’s readings. The Trinity created a united salvific function – there is unity in the Holy Trinity, but each member of the Trinity are distinct in person – but they are only One historical God.
The Christian God is the Triune God. There are three persons – by which there is a distinction among the other, but they are One, united with love. God calls us to come to know him despite its complexity. God himself reveals to us inklings of this mystery and it is out of our love for him that we wish to come to know Father through the Son, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.