Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
Today we celebrate the Holy Trinity, God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal and co-eternal. The triune nature of God is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith. The most astute minds in our tradition have attempted to explain what it means that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct but of the same essence, one being with three manifestations. As is befitting a mystery, the Trinity is ultimately beyond our comprehension. So were all those scholarly efforts wasted? Should we just accept it as fact and move on? I would argue no. When we seek to understand the mystery, we open ourselves to an deepening relationship with God.
The developed doctrine of the Trinity is not explicitly established in the New Testament, but it is rooted there. First, at Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan when the voice of the Father is heard, and the Holy Spirit is present in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:13-17). Then again in the Gospel we read today, where Jesus commands the disciples to, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19).
The example of the Trinity shows us how important relationship is to God. There is a saying, “you cannot be all things to all people.” But God can. God can be all things to all people, all the time, forever. There is nothing God wants more than to have a deep and meaningful relationship with each person. This relationship requires our participation, but we are encouraged by Jesus’ words in the Gospel today, ‘I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Wherever we are, God is there, wanting to be with us. I invite you to join me this week in contemplating the mystery of the Holy Trinity and opening our hearts and minds to an affirming encounter with our loving God.
I wish you and your loved ones blessings of good health, new hope and true peace,
