Accepting the Mystery of the Trinity

By Norm McGraw

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101522.cfm
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 12:8-12

Recently, I was talking to an agnostic friend of mine about one of my reflections. Although he didn’t agree with some conclusions in the article, he admired people who have faith in the Almighty. In fact, he “envied” those who have a spiritual foundation to rely upon in their lives.

This week’s first reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us how lucky we are to believe. To his fellow Christians, he states, “Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.”

The responsorial psalm hints at the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ when it states, “You (God the Father) have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.”

The second reading, from the gospel of Luke, describes the relationship between the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells his disciples, “Whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.” Later, he says, “the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

The official catechism of the Catholic Church expounds on this relationship between God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. “There is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Most Holy Trinity. The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself.” 

Continuing, “The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God.”

Wow. That’s deep. Admittedly, it may be difficult to accept the concept of the Trinity. But accepting it, surrendering to it is the key to our faith.

Surrendering to God was certainly something practiced by Saint Teresa of Avila, the 16th century Carmelite nun the Church commemorates this week. She was a significant Spanish mystic, religious reformer, author, and theologian who was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. In recognition of her spiritual legacy, Pope Paul VI proclaimed her the first female Doctor of the Church. 

In her view of mental prayer, she recognized the importance of understanding the horror of sin and the need to surrender to God.

When we accept God in our lives, we accept the mystery of the Trinity as “the mystery of God in himself.” 

We are fortunate to experience that. As Saint Paul tells us, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.”

After all, having a positive relationship with God will always put you in a good mood.

And that’s why my agnostic friend is envious of us.