The Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity

The mystery of the Trinity is not a myth. It is not a mirage. It is not a puzzle that cannot be solved or resolved. It is not what we cannot know or understand. We can understand the Trinity to the extent human mind can understand the profound mystery of God.

We know that there is only one God. In this one God, we have three divine persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the  Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Though the three divine persons are different, they are also equal. The Father is not superior to the Son. The Son is neither inferior or superior to the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not inferior or superior to the Father and the Son. All are equal. There is no rivalry, competition, and struggle among them. The three persons are united in love and as one. There is harmony, understanding, sharing and unity among them.

The Trinity provides some valuable lessons for us. First, the Trinity is a community. The Trinity is a community of three divine persons. God also intends that we live in community. It is the will of God that human beings live harmoniously in communities. No man is an island. It is not good for a man or woman to live alone. We are created as social beings to live in love, unity, and interdependence in human communities.

Second, the three persons of the Trinity are equal. None is inferior or superior to the other. Inspite of differences in quantity and quality of our gifts and possesions, all human beings are equal before God. No human being is superior or inferior to the other. We all enjoy the equal dignity of imago dei. Power, money, position, influence, education and achievements should not make us feel that we are superior to others. Those who enjoy power, positions, money and leverage should not feel superior to those who do not have these things. "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" - this is the type of equality invented by humans, not the equality intended by God. Those who have no power, money, positions and influence should not feel inferior to those who have these things.

Third, the three persons of the Trinity are different from each other. God also intends differences in our world. Differences in language, cultures, race are intended by God. God wants each one of us to be different, unique and be comfortable with our differences. Our differences can enrich us. We can accept, appreciate, and even celebrate our differences. Our differences must never be the cause of discrimination and division.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Who could ever imagine the excruciating pain and enormous suffering of our Lady at the foot of the cross? What sorrow is greater that the pain of a mother who witnessed the execution of her only child? Mary was present at the foot of the cross. She saw the pain, agony and suffering of her only Son.

From the moment she conceived Jesus in her womb, Mary shared every aspect of the mission and ministry of Jesus.  But the climax was her sharing of the suffering of Jesus on the cross. At the foot of the cross she saw her Son ‘bruised, derided, cursed and defiled.’  She saw her Son gasping for his last breath. Nothing could be more painful to a mother. Nothing could be more dreadful. The prophesy of Simeon was fulfilled. A sword pieced the soul of Mary (Lk 2:35).

Yet Mary accepted the immolation of her Son with faith. She accepted everything with utter submission and resignation to the will of God. According to Vatican II, “the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and loyally persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan (Cf. Jn 19:25), suffering grievously with her only begotten Son. There she united herself with her maternal heart to his sacrifice and lovingly consented to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth” (Lumen Gentium, n. 58).

Mary reminds us that our place is at the foot of the cross. Like Mary we offer our little discomforts, sufferings, and pains as a sharing in the suffering of Christ. If we share in the suffering of Christ, we shall also share in His glory (Rom 8:17).  Mary also teaches us how to accept the tragedies of life (like the loss of our loved ones) with faith, submission and resignation to the will of God. The best way we can confront the tragedies of life is the way of the cross.  The way of the cross is the Christian way.   It is the road less travelled. But it is the only way that leads to glory.

Cast Your Net into the Deep Again

Peter a professional fisherman and his friends went to the sea for fishing. They worked hard all night long without a single catch. Worn out and run down, he came to the shore. He was embarrassingly disappointed. Jesus a professional carpenter asked despondent Peter to cast out his nets again. Peter answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”  Peter protested first but obeyed at last. He cast his nets again. He caught so much fish that he needed some help to haul his nets ashore (Lk 5:1-7).


Disappointments As Blessing in Disguise

Life can be very difficult and irksome. Setbacks and Disappointments can thwart our noble attempts to succeed in life. Nevertheless, disappointments can initiate soul searching, uncover our oversights and provide fresh insights; open our minds to new opportunities and horizons. In other words, disappointments can be a blessing in disguise.

The failure and disappointment of Peter provided for him an opportunity to experience the abundance of divine providence. Paulo Coelho says “when you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.”


The Courage to Dare

Peter enjoyed bountiful catch because he had the courage to dare again. He had a million reasons not to make another attempt. Against all odds, he tried again. And this time he succeeded. If we dare to try again, to our pleasant surprise, what is impossible will become possible; obstacles will be crushed; dreams will become reality.

Success belongs to those who will dare to believe, hope and try again. We must never stop trying again. Les Brown says “anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead.”  As long as we have the courage to dare, try again, our success is absolutely guaranteed.

The Price of Giving Up

If we will not cast our nets again, if we give up in ourselves, we will lose everything.  When we stop trying and start giving excuses, we are only inviting failures. When we give up and give in to despair we begin to go down a spiral; talents atrophy; opportunities are wasted; we descend so fast and so low; we settle for less and eventually settle for nothing. We lose everything.

Despair and excuse can never guarantee success, if anything, they exacerbate the unsavoury situation. The greatest evil in the world is not failure or setbacks. The greatest evil in the world is lack of courage to dare, lack of desire to try again. The greatest evil in the world is loss of confidence, enthusiasm and energy to try again. There is nothing as tragic as giving up on oneself when success is inches away. If we retire, we expire.

A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen, Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin;

Chosen by the most holy Father in heaven, consecrated by Him, with His most holy beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
On you descended and in you still remains all the fullness of grace and ever good.
Hail His Palace.Hail His Tabernacle.Hail His Robe.Hail His Handmaid.Hail His Mother.
And hail, all holy Virtues, who, by the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful, so that, faithless no longer, they may be made faithful servants of God through you. Amen.

- St Francis of Assisi