To Be a Little Trinity

Trinity Sunday

John 16:12-15

May 26, 2013

The distinctive mark of being Christian is Trinity. We share the claim of monotheism with other religions, yet our belief in one God in three divine persons enables us to stand unique among others. Doubtless our God is one, yet the same doubtless we give to three persons in this one God. The Father is different from the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son is also totally unique. And, the Holy Spirit definitely maintains His personal identity. Yet, they remain always one! How is this possible?!

Relax! I spent an entire semester to understand the Trinity and not even a dot I could mark in my mind. This is the core of our faith, yet it is the most puzzling if not intriguing teaching of the Church. Why did God choose to reveal this truth?

Well, since God cannot create useless things, this must be necessary. Necessary for what? Since, it is related to our faith, so it is necessary for salvation. Next question: how concretely our belief in Trinity can save us then? Here is the missing link: that we are created in God's image and likeness.

Being made in God's image and likeness means we are called to be godly and destined to share the final beatitude with Him. But, who is our God? He is Trinity. Thus, more than just Godly, we are also called to be Trinitarian! We are fundamentally invited to reflect this perfect harmony of perfect diversity on earth as it is in heaven.

We are born and grow to be unique! I am male, Indonesian, Roman Catholic, Dominican, firstborn, student of Theology in Manila and more. How about you? Just yesterday, in my flight from Pontianak to Jakarta, I sat beside a French black man who spoke Indonesian well! We are different and we are many! But, don't worry. This diversity is never intended to be a source of conflict and enmity. It is perfectly mirrored God!

Yet, difference is only the beginning. We are also to finish the job.  As three persons are living as a community of perfect love, we are to make our differences a harmony of love. This is cute in theory, but in reality, it is a radical choice to love the diversity, to destroy the walls of hatred, to clear out the deep-seated misconceptions.

To be Trinitarian means to dare to sincerely talk with the majority who discriminated our group. To be Trinitarian means to lower our position to the level people we consider lowly and speak as equal. Yes, it is so hard! Yet, if we believe in Trinity, we need to meet God's expectation in us: to be a little trinity on earth.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP