BY Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
Once a pious woman who was bringing a bunch of novena-booklets to church met the parish priest. He asked, “Who is your favorite saint?” “Of course, I like the Blessed Virgin Mary best! But I also like her sister!”
“Sister? Who is she?” asked the priest. “Santa Trinidad.”
Of course, the Virgin Mary had no sister and the funny story only proves how difficult it is to understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity or “Santa Trinidad.”
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This Sunday is the feast of the Triune God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit. In arithmetic we say 1+1+1 equals 3 but with the Holy Trinity it’s 1+1+1 equals 1! This is because the three Persons are distinct but have only one divine nature.
An example is water. It can exist in three different forms: ice, liquid and steam, but the same water.
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“What is the significance to me if God is a three-Person but one God?” one might ask. God communicated Himself through His Son Jesus and the Trinitarian family to mankind in a language that could be felt, touched, heard, and easily understood.
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Through Jesus Christ, God also revealed God’s main attribute which is love. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jn 3,16). Jesus further said: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him and We shall…make our dwelling place with him” (Jn 14,23).
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Love is the bond that unites the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus the more we practice love, the more we live the Trinity not as an incomprehensible mystery, but as a living reality.
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The family becomes a little Holy Trinity when family members love, care and respect one another.
Once a young boy, doing his homework, approached his father and asked: “Papa, how do wars begin? The father answered, “War begins when, for example, the USA attacks Britain, and Britain retaliates.”
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The mother, who was within hearing distance, intervened: “How could that happen? USA and Britain are allies!” “But that’s just an example!” the husband growled. “And how do you expect a child to learn with wrong examples!” the wife shot back.
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Irked, the husband replied, “Would you shut up!” “You shut up, too!” the wife snapped. “What you’re teaching is wrong!” And the two shouted at one another. The son raised his voice and said: “Papa, Mama, that’s enough! Now I know how wars begin.”
The story illustrates that intolerance of other’s opinions, even though we disagree, can cause conflicts and hurt feelings that are very difficult to heal.
Tolerance and respect for one another are forms of love and Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
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When we recite the Trinitarian prayer, let’s remember the Trinitarian Family: “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…” The same when we make the Sign of the Cross.
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