CELEBRATE-IMITATE OUR 3-IN-1 GOD
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20
Multi-tasking is a way of life today... with many multi-function devices to help us! Think about the 3-in-1 stylus-laser pointer-pen. AIO printers print-copy-scan-fax. Today’s smartphones do virtually everything! With all these multi-functioning devices, it shouldn’t be difficult to accept the notion that one God can exist as three persons!
Our God is “multi-function” (though we ought not to reduce God to function)! It is proper to attribute the work of creation to the Father; the work of healing and redemption to the Son; and the work of guidance to the Spirit. Three unique persons with three distinct functions!
These unique persons live in community. God is a family!
John’s Gospel highlights the fundamentally social/communitarian nature of God. John 1:18 speaks of the “Son who is close to the Father’s heart.” John 10:30 reads: “My Father and I are one.” In John 6:20, Jesus tells his disciples: “It is I (in Greek I am), do not be afraid.” In five other places, Jesus uses the absolute “I am”, which recalls Exodus 3:14, where Yahweh revealed his name to Moses: “I am who am.”
The Greek Fathers use the word perichoresis (“dancing together”) to describe this loving communion of the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit live in perfect communion, which is essentially a “being there” for one another.
What are the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity for us?
Created in the image and likeness of a trinitarian God, we have similar attributes!
First, we are unique; we want to be recognized and accepted as individuals. We don’t want to be clones.
Second, we desire to be in community/communion; we achieve this not by negating/denying differences, but by respecting/nurturing our diversity and blending our differences.
Third, like the Father, we are called to be creative and to contribute to building up; like the Son, we are called to reconcile and to mend broken relationships; Like the Spirit, it is our task to teach and to dispel ignorance.
How will I live out the doctrine of the Trinity in my life: will I respect myself and others as unique persons, and form communion and community by blending differences? Will I become a creative contributor, healer, and guide?
May we celebrate and imitate our 3-in-1 God!
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