ONE GOD, THREE PERSONS

 A REFLECTION FOR TRINITY SUNDAY

The Holy Trinity is the biblical, monotheistic doctrine that there is only one God in three distinct co-equal, co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost; three Persons of the one nature and being. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father, but each of them are fully, equally, and simultaneously God. These three Persons are not three gods, but one God—the only God in existence. There are three essential parts of the Holy Trinity:

• There is only one God.

• The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three different Persons.

• The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the same Being (God).

In summary, the Holy Trinity is: “one God in three Persons”. Person, in this context, is best described as someone who can say “I” and “You” and who possesses individuality and self-awareness. Being (or substance / essence) is best described as what you are, or everything that you consist of that that makes you what you are. Some Christians find it helpful to say that God is three “Who’s” (Persons) and one “What” (Being).

Nature, in this context, refers to the specific qualities and aspects of beings or things that make them of the same kind or of a different kind of other beings or things (e.g. human nature, angelic nature, and divine nature, the last of which refers to God). It should be noted that we sometimes use the term “Godhead” to refer to all Persons (or members) of the Holy Trinity. In addition, we often call the Father the first Person of the Trinity, the Son the second, and the Holy Spirit the third. We worship a three-in-one God.

The Holy Trinity is a very difficult concept to wrap our heads around. God is far greater than how we think of him, after all. However, there are some real-life objects or concepts which may help us come to terms with God’s Triune nature. One example is a three-leafed clover. There are three leafs on the one plant, similar to the three Persons in the one God. Another example is matter. Matter consists of solids, liquids, and gases, but there is only one matter, not three. Another example is an apple: it has the skin, flesh, and seeds, yet these are not three apples, but one apple.

These examples are not perfect, though, and should not be used as accurate descriptions of God’s Triune nature. God is both known by those who love him (Galatians 4:9) and at the same time he is a mystery whom the human mind can never comprehend (Romans 11:33–35). This makes sense, to a certain degree; after all, one should be suspicious of any claims that the finite human mind can contain and understand the infinite and transcendent God (Isaiah 40:28; Jeremiah 23:24).

The Holy Trinity Is a Standard of Orthodoxy.  Because the Holy Trinity deals with the nature and identity of the God of the Bible, the Catholic Church across all centuries has rightly labeled those who reject this doctrine as non-Christian and heretical. If you do not see God in a Trinitarian way, then you do not know God at all, because the God of the Bible has revealed himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Holy Trinity is an essential doctrine of the Church; you must believe in it in order to be a Catholic.

[Adapted from www.redemptionofhumanity.org]