Thoughts on the Holy Trinity

Trinity Sunday

15 June 2025

                       

There are so many mysteries in life. They frequently confound us, they irritate us, and sometimes entertain us. The ultimate mystery, however, is a mystery that consoles us. It is the mystery of God Himself, the Holy Trinity. The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the central dogma (highest level of doctrine) of the Christian Faith. 

• It is the most basic belief of our Faith. It is even more basic than the doctrine of the Incarnation, of God becoming man, for without the Trinity there could be no Son.

• The Holy Trinity is the most basic mystery of our Faith. Theologians call it an “absolute” mystery: a divinely revealed truth, the inner essence of which cannot be fully understood by the finite human mind. It is absolute mystery because we would not know of it if Jesus did not explicitly reveal it to the Apostles.

• Our belief is that the one true God exists in three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

These three divine persons are:

► co-equal (No one person is above the others.)

► co-eternal (Each person has always existed and will always exist.)

► consubstantial (“of one substance” or “nature” or “essence”)

This absolute, ultimate mystery of God cannot be fully (or even satisfactorily) explained.

It defies our logic and even defies our mathematics. How can one equal three?

Through reason alone we can know that God exists; however, we cannot know or understand the Trinity through reason alone. But, this absolute mystery can console, encourage, help, and guide us.

           God the Father:  Is the Loving, Providential God who created us, the world,                                          and all in it. He is the Loving God who still holds us in                                                existence.

           God the Son:  Is the Lord and Savior who suffered and died for our salvation.

                                  He revealed to the world the ways of God and the way to God.

           God the Holy Spirit:  Is God with us still – sustaining, guiding, consoling,                                                    counseling, pleading our cause.

Life is always full of mysteries: some confuse, some irritate, and some will never be solved in this world. But the ultimate mystery of God's true nature, the Holy Trinity, is meant to comfort us, console us, and even inspire us, because we believe that our True God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – guards and guides us with His providential love each day.



Fr. Don Saunders, SJ