If I were to describe my original home parish to you, back in Fredericktown, Missouri, there are many features I could tell you about. I could talk about the granite that was taken from a local quarry to create the outer structure. Perhaps the location, being just around the heart of town. I could speak about the events that occur there. However, I would miss one of the more prominent features if I did not mention the mosaic in the middle. Now, we all likely know that mosaics are bits of glass, cemented in place for the world to see some sort of image or motif that the artist wants to introduce us to. Now, my parish, being Saint Michaels, would seem like a perfect place for a mosaic about the archangel Michael. While that is true, and can be seen, there is actually a very central figure in the middle of that entire mosaic- the Trinity.
We might think it rather odd, and yet, that Mosaic depicts the Baptism of the Lord- showing the Father, looking down on the Son, and sending His gift of the Holy Spirit. It truly is astounding to think that someone took it upon themselves to create an image of the Trinity. It is very hard to imagine what the three in one must look like, but that mosaic depicts it quite beautifully. Yet, perhaps that is not the most important problem that we could be facing in regards to the Trinity as we celebrate what we have named “Trinity Sunday” yet again this year. It is always the Sunday following Pentecost, and is one of the opening Sundays to the entirety of the rest of the Church’s liturgical year. It is a fascinating feast, as we celebrate a certain section of the Church’s theology as to God being three persons in one- and one in three. On the surface, it may seem that it is just simply a bit of confusing Catholic trivia, and yet, if we look below the surface, we may find that, though we cannot completely understand the entirety of the Trinity, our understanding may grow as we go along, and see the answer as to why it is important or even necessary to know that God is three persons in one.
First, we begin at the reading, taken from the book of Proverbs. Though the book is on Proverbs, it actually concerns itself with the book of Wisdom. We can understand Wisdom, as it is depicted in this monologue, to be a womanly figure, who was with the Lord, the Creator, at the beginning of time. We can actually think of this referring to God the Father, in some remarkable way. It is a reflection upon the very beginnings of time, and how Wisdom, when she was created, was able to see all of the things that came after her. She watched while the Lord formed the vault of the heavens, how he formed the skies, how He fixed the foundations of the earth, set the sea, amongst so many wondrous works.
Notice this beautiful thought, however- how as Wisdom was there, she finds delight in one particular work of creation- as God is creating all of these ponderous things, how she stops to focus upon one- the delight she finds in the human race. Now, this might seem rather odd, but if we connect wisdom back to God the Father and His act of creation- there is an idea that God truly delights in all of His Creation. Keep in mind- this is after a lot of evil things happened, including the fall. This is well after those moments, and yet, God inspires the author of Proverbs to remind the human race of the delight He takes in them. This seems radical, especially when it is so easy to focus on the negative things we do, or even a condemning or harsh God that we presume to exist… is there more to the picture?
In the course of the second reading, we move to Saint Paul and his letter to the Romans. At the outset, we have the Trinity referred to indirectly in each member. The Father is there, Jesus Christ is there, and then finally, the Spirit. However, Saint Paul focuses more so on the character of Jesus in the context of this excerpt. He speaks about how it is through Jesus Christ that we gain access to our faith- and we boast in the hope and glory of God.
Yet, that is not enough. Even our afflictions, Saint Paul reminds us, are moments of glory. He goes through this hierarchy, showing that affliction produces endurance, endurance, character, character, produces hope- and all of this by the love of God. We will return to this theme, but it seems that Saint Paul is reminding us of good Christology: the theology of Jesus Christ. We see such a tremendous example through Christ’s self-emptying actions upon the Cross- and we are encouraged to embrace our own passions- or our own sufferings. All of these are to produce such great things in our lives- even though they may not appear that they could do such things. Christ, as the Redeemer, comes to us and gives us so much in His own Passion, and we gain so much more in that example that He encourages each of us to take upon ourselves and to make our own.
Finally, we arrive at the Gospel, taken from John. Chronologically, we are backing up a bit in the Gospel to before the Ascension, and even before the Crucifixion, as Jesus is reminding the disciples of what He will do for them, even after his departure. He speaks directly to the Holy Spirit, and He speaks of Him as the “Spirit of Truth.” What this means is that this is going to be that divine communication of God and His word to us. The Spirit is going to be present as a messenger. Yet, it isn’t enough for us to just say that He is a “messenger” but that He is also the one who is going to provide the word that God wishes to speak, and also the things that Jesus gains for us, whether it be in prayer, in the Sacraments, or even in Christ’s Body as a whole. The job of the Spirit is a connection to all of these things!
Believe it or not, all of these things have encouragements for us as to the importance of knowing God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each of these readings highlight something vital to us, but each one shows us something important via a connection. The Trinity, the three in one, is there to give us connections, not just in one way, but in three united and yet distinct ways. It is like that mosaic that I mentioned earlier, but on an even smaller scale. Left to itself, each square of glass would have meaning, but not all that much. We, through the Trinity, gain a connection to where we are in relationship with the Father, with the Son, and with the Holy Spirit, as strange as it might seem. It is that connection that gives life meaning.
The readings actually raise up several significant questions to pray over this week. First, let us consider God the Father. In the reading selected from the book of Proverbs, we are reminded that Wisdom “found delight in the human race.” While that may not seem like a significant detail, it begs a question- do you believe that God delights in you? Perhaps you do, but maybe you don’t, or you aren’t sure. This can happen especially in moments where it seems like God is absent to us, or has left us in a particular stage of life, and we aren’t sure where we are going next. Perhaps you are in a moment of transition and confusion- and it seems as if everything is upside down. In all of those moments- do you believe that God the Father delights in you- and loves you? The fact that we know His name reminds us of something beautiful- your God loves you in a way no one else can!
Second, we should consider the work of Jesus Christ in our life- and ask this question- in moments of hardship- do we turn to God? Whenever we are beset by affliction, what happens? It is so tempting at times to let moments of hardship or discouragement make us bitter people, or anxious, or even angry. However, if we are allowed that connection to the second member of the Trinity- Jesus Christ- hopefully, we discover the help we need to let these things build us up on our way- and to give us hope rather than discouragement! We have to have that connection first!
Finally, we arrive at the question- do we have the Spirit of Truth? In the moments when things seem clear, or in moments when we have to confront someone with the truth, or even in moments when it seems that we have lost our connection or relationship with God- do we turn to the Spirit? Are we looking to the one who brings us Jesus in Word, Sacrament, and presence when we but call on His Name? We are reminded that we have this resource and this personal relationship there as well, if we but call upon the name of Jesus, and trust in His gift of the Spirit!
Brothers and sisters, the Trinity is certainly more than a nice image for a mosaic. It has so much more meaning for us, but it shows us first and foremost, how much God desires to be in relationship with you, in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. He has made Himself known in all three ways- and though it remains mysterious in certain ways, we are still granted vision to see Him, to know of that desire He has to be in relationship with each of us!
The question for each of us this week: the Trinity wants to know you and to be there for you! Do you trust and rely on the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
