WHAT A PRIVILEDGE TO SHARE IN GOD'S INNER LIFE

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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.  At Mass (yes, online during these COVID times), I am again reminded of the precious mystery of God’s inner life that He so lovingly and intimately reveals to us.  What a privilege it is for us human!  
 
"The mystery of the Blessed Trinity is the mystery of the infinite generosity and infinite love that we find in the inner life of God."
 
I dug up my Theology notes to re-read, reflect and to share.  Below are excerpts from notes taken @Lecture by Rev Fr Michael Chan.  I hope you will find meaning and inspiration as we strive to deepen our understanding of our faith and our relationship with our Lord.  
 
 
[Excerpts from notes of Rev Fr Michael Chan, 2016]
 
The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life.
 
It is one of the mysteries that are hidden in God which can never be known unless they are revealed by God. (CCC237)  
 
God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
 
God has told us that, in Himself, there are Three Divine Persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) in the one divine nature.  
 
 
CCC234 says this:   "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.  It is the mystery of God in himself.  It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the "hierarchy of the truths of faith". The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men "and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin”
 
 
THE BLESSED TRINITY IS GOD’S INNER LIFE
 
By revealing the Blessed Trinity, God has revealed His inner life to us.
 
In revealing to man this mystery, God introduces us into the intimacy of the divine nature.
 
 
THE GRADUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRINITY
 
The understanding of the Blessed Trinity has developed from Scriptural references over time:
  • At the Annunciation(Lk 1:31-35) - “…he will be called the Son of the Most High…the Holy Spirit will come upon you…the child will be called holy, the Son of God…”
  • At the Baptism of Jesus at River Jordan (Mt 3:16-17) - “…the Spirit of God descended….this is my beloved Son…”
  • At the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor (Mt 15:5) - “….this is my beloved Son…” 
  • At the commissioning of the apostles before Christ’s ascension (Mt 28:19) - “…baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…”
 
THE NOTIONS OF NATURE AND PERSON
 
It is not easy to picture the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three and yet one.  And so the notions of nature and person are essential in understanding the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.  
 
NATURE = the essence =what a thing is (e.g. horse, tree, man)
PERSON = the subject =who it is (e.g. Peter, Christina)
 
 
THREE PERSONS ONE NATURE
 
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons of the Trinity who possess the same divine nature.
 
So the Father is not the Son, and they are not the Holy Spirit.  They are each a distinct person.
 
And yet, they are each God because they each possess the same divine nature.
 

 
IN REVEALING HIS INNER LIFE TO US…
 
The mystery of the Blessed Trinity is the mystery of the infinite generosity and infinite love that we find in the inner life of God.
  1. It helps us understand other truths of our faith, e.g. helps us understand creation better as a manifestation of God’s love and goodness...
  2. It sheds light on the mystery of the Redemption, of God freely giving himself to sinful man for his salvation, manifesting God’s supreme love and mercy towards His creatures.
  3. It sheds light also on the nature of man as a person, made unto the image and likeness of God
  4. It helps us penetrate into the meaning of the human family as we realise that the family is a reflection of the love and unity of the three Divine Persons. 
 

 
"He has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature….make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.”  2 Peter 1:4-7   (First Reading 1 June 2020)
 
"We cannot stand firm in our loyalty to Jesus our Lord without drawing on an ever-deeper understanding of the Christian message through prayer and meditation.”
Notes from Universalis, 1 June 2020.
 

 
The contemplation of the Blessed Trinity is what constitutes the essential blessedness of man in paradise.  
 
Life on earth is meant to prepare us for this beatific vision.  
 
 
Wishing you a very blessed and meaningful Feast of the Most Holy Trinity!
 
 
 
 

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