Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a feast that makes many heads hurt as they try and understand one of the most complex theological realities that theologians wrestle with. The wonderful American theologian, Catherine Mowry LaCugna, once wrote that “the doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract teaching about God apart from us but a teaching about God’s life with us and our life with each other.” Her point is that ultimately any teaching about the Holy Trinity is about “relationship." Jesus tells the disciples that “everything that the Father has is mine….and the Spirit will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” There is no “yours and mine” in the Trinity….there is no possessiveness…only a profound sense of “ours”…a sense of community…a sense of communion! Perhaps that is it…”communion”…the total sharing of “being”. And the awesome reality is that “we” are part of that communion!!!
“Understanding” the Holy Trinity…even for great theologians is ultimately beyond us because whatever we “understand” God to be…God is so much more! No matter how profound the theological pronouncements may sound, our attempts are so puny in the face of the enormity of the mystery that is God! So let us not get caught up in complex theological arguments or pronouncements…rather let us rejoice that “God so loved the world” that God came to us as “one of us” in Jesus Christ that we might come to know God better! It is all about relationship…about communion…communing with God…and God communing with us! What does “communion” really mean? How do I commune with God…and with others? Do I really feel connected…“in communion” with “all” my sisters and brothers...even those who are different from me…even those I don’t like? Am I open to being taught by the Holy Spirit to enter into communion with God and others in ways I might not have thought of?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
“Understanding” the Holy Trinity…even for great theologians is ultimately beyond us because whatever we “understand” God to be…God is so much more! No matter how profound the theological pronouncements may sound, our attempts are so puny in the face of the enormity of the mystery that is God! So let us not get caught up in complex theological arguments or pronouncements…rather let us rejoice that “God so loved the world” that God came to us as “one of us” in Jesus Christ that we might come to know God better! It is all about relationship…about communion…communing with God…and God communing with us! What does “communion” really mean? How do I commune with God…and with others? Do I really feel connected…“in communion” with “all” my sisters and brothers...even those who are different from me…even those I don’t like? Am I open to being taught by the Holy Spirit to enter into communion with God and others in ways I might not have thought of?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
RSS Feed
