From the Friars: One Plus One Equals Three
Let us consider some basic things that we experience frequently that have a unity but also three aspects:
- Space: height, width, depth;
- Time: past, present, future;
- Matter: solid, liquid, gas;
- Fire: flame, light, heat;
- Plant: root, stem, leaf;
- Body: heart, brain, lungs;
- Soul: memory, intellect, will;
- Family: father, mother, child;
- God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Creation reveals the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, the mystery of the Creator, like an artist who reveals him or herself in their work. This is also the mystery of ourselves because we are made in His image and likeness.
The Adoration of the Trinity by Albrecht Dürer (1511): from top to bottom: Holy Spirit (dove), God the Father and the Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Albrecht Dürer – Google Arts & Culture, Public Domain, Link
How can there be only one God and yet three divine persons? Because God is love and love is a relationship. Love is the greatest reality of our existence and you cannot give what you don’t have. But the love between two only is still imperfect. A friendship between two people that is exclusive and closed to others is a type of selfishness. To be totally selfless they must seek to share the joy of their mutual love with others. A marriage that is intentionally closed to new life is not a real marriage.
The three divine persons form the perfect eternal communion of persons, the divine family. The Holy Trinity teaches us that love, complete mutual self-gift, is creative and powerful, the source of all power and goodness.. The countless number of human persons that have lived and will live reveal the infinite fruitfulness that is personified by the Holy Spirit. Let this Divine Trinitarian Love be our weapon in the battle against the darkness of this world.
Peace,
— Fr. Peter