FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD

Don’t be mistaken! We Christians do not believe in three gods. There is only one God. The first reading is very clear: “Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the LORD is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other.” (Dt 4:39). 

Christians are strictly monotheists. But, in his actions towards people and in his work of salvation, God reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, being one God. How is that possible? – you may ask. We have no answers that may answer fully that question. It is the mystery of God. And then there are so many questions in life for which we have no answers. Even if we are created in his image, God is so different from everything that we know. There is a Bemba proverb that says: The short one will never reach up there, where the tall one has put something (apasamika umutali, mwipi teti asamune). In the end, we cannot know the secrets of God, unless he reveals himself to us.

GOD IS LOVE

The New Testament makes it very clear that God is love and that he reveal himself as love. And basically that’s the reality we mean, when we profess the Trinity. God is love. In love, there is communion and sharing. The greater the love, the greater the sharing and communion. With perfect love, we have perfect communion. Love does not destroy the differences, but makes possible the union, so that they are truly one. And this love is eternal, without beginning and end, because it is God himself.

Celebrating the Holy Trinity, we are celebrating God’s love, a love that he shares with us, calling us to have a share in that love. God’s love for us is so great, that he makes us his beloved children.

CHILDREN OF GOD

In his letter to the Romans, Paul puts it very clearly:

“Everyone moved by the Spirit 

is a child of God. 

The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; 

it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ 

The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. 

And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.” (Ro 8:14-17).