by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB
The New Testament continues to mention one God. Many passages, however, make constant reference to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We Christians conclude that the one nature of God must have three distinct manifestations. Our limited human languages can find no better way to acknowledge this than to speak of One God who is at the same time Father, Son, and Spirit. All are One and all are equal.
The opening Prayer of the Feast of the Holy Trinity assigns specific roles to each member of the One God. The Father is the Source. He sends into the world his Word whom we call his Son. The Father is also the source of the Spirit who is sent to humanity to enable us to share in God’s divinity, his holiness. The Spirit sanctifies. Any holiness we might think we possess is from God. We are NOT holy, but God is holy in us.
In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus insisted that He and the Father are One. Philip, at the Last Supper, begged Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus replied, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” He went on to claim that the Father speaks and works through him. “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Quickly thereafter Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit if out of love they would keep his commandments, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever … the Spirit of truth” (See Jn 14:14-17). Clearly, Jesus spoke of three distinct persons of the One God.
The Gospel for the liturgy of Trinity Sunday ‘A’ is St. John’s commentary on being born again of water and the Spirit. Jesus had spoken to Nicodemus of this rebirth in the Spirit as opening the way to eternal life. It would come through faith in him, and He knew what He was speaking of, for “God so loved the world,” that he sent Jesus down from heaven. And Jesus said far in advance of his crucifixion that he must be lifted up to save others, ”So that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16)
Thus, early in his Gospel St. John had Jesus state the reason for his coming among us, our Salvation. And well did John portray the place of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in opening the Kingdom of Heaven.