Holy Trinity Reflection

Blessed be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Reflection for Trinity Sunday
Proverbs 8; 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 11: 33-36:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

The Feast of the Trinity, the belief that there are three distinct manifestations or persons in God, is one of the most difficult beliefs of Christianity for many to understand and believe. Yet In scripture, there are many references to the three manifestations or persons of God.
Jesus, in Matthew 28, tells the disciples “Jesus said to His disciples: All is power given to Me in heaven and on earth. Going therefore, teach you all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you for all days, even to the consummation of the world.”

“Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” Jesus tells the Apostles to Baptize in the name of the three persons in God.
In Romans we read “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”
I am not going to go into the scholarly dissertations that have been made throughout the ages. St. Patrick, in trying to show how there could be three distinct parts to one thing used the shamrock to define the trinity, others have used water in its three forms (liquid, solid, gas) to show how one thing can have three distinct qualities.
Most of us who believe in God and Are Followers of Christ accept the fact of the Trinity.
There is only One God, the Father/Creator who is the maker of all things. This is the God who asks only that we recognize Him and only Him. This is the same God who is said to have given Moses the rules for all to follow, the commandments. When the commandments are examined, with intelligence, they make logical sense as an intelligent way to lead ones life. If we follow them, we will not only honor God, but we will also live lives that respect for the dignity and individuality of each and every human being and of all God’s creation.
Christ in Matthew 28 says “Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth. Teach them to observe all the Commands I gave you and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
In order to show His unending love for all His children, Almighty God sent himself in the human form of Jesus, to not only clearly demonstrate that a human could live according to the Commandments, but to simplify the commandments by clarifying how simple it is to give honor and glory to God. Christ, the second person of the trinity, summed the ten commandments up with this statement, “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and being and Love your neighbor as yourself”. To love your neighbor as you love yourself means that you do not discriminate against them, do anything that will cause them pain or suffering, and not prevent them from giving praise, glory and honor to Almighty God who created them.
Romans 8:14 states “Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God” and it concludes with “If we are children, we are heirs as well; heirs of God, heirs with Christ” That simply means that we all can have the everlasting and eternal life promised to us and earned through the passion, death, and resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit, the third personage of Almighty God is often referred to as “ENLIGHTENER, COUNSELOR, and COMFORTER.
By our Baptism we, as Jesus himself was baptized by John at the Jordan River, are baptized with water and the Holy Spirit. This means that just as the spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, and upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, we also receive the spirit and with it the gifts of the Spirit which are, “Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord and we are open to receive the Fruits of the Spirit which are; Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance.
The gifts and fruits of The Holy Spirit are strengthened and supposedly deepened within us through prayer, and the Eucharist and will grow within us every day we live as Jesus instructed us and gave us by example in His life here on earth.
If, however, we choose to ignore God’s desires for us by succumbing to greed, sexual promiscuity, discrimination, disregard for the poor and needy, selfishness, and anger, violence and war mongering, we separate ourselves from God and the Gifts of God bestowed through the Holy Spirit.
Therefore by accepting Christ as our redeemer and savior, and by following the commandments of God as clarified by Christ, we will gain the everlasting life in the spirit when our mortal life is over.
We need to be ever vigilant, keeping ourselves open to receiving the Holy Spirit into our life. We need to what our heart is telling us and discern if it conforms to how Christ lived and taught us.
If we do this we will indeed become one with the Father, and the Son and Holy Spirit.

Prayer to Holy Trinity
From the Collect of the Mass for Trinity Sunday

O Almighty and Everlasting God, who has granted to Your servants, in confessing the true Father, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of Majesty to adore the Unity: we beseech You, that by steadfastness in the same Faith, we may ever be defended against all adversity and live our lives with brotherhood toward all persons. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, You Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
O God, the strength of those who put their trust in You, be kindly attentive to our prayers, and since man's weakness is helpless without You, grant the help of Your grace, that in observing Your commandments, we may please You both in will and in deed. Forgive us our failings and strengthen us by your gifts of the Holy Spirit. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, You Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity as One God, Father, Son and Holy spirit. AMEN