One in Love

Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is a belief in the three persons in one God. This explains the love that exists in the Godhead clearly seen in God’s personal initiative to send his Son into the world to save falling humanity.

Trinity, three in one, depicts unity and communion. The three persons in One God reveals Himself to humanity at different epoch of human history. God as a Father, created the Universe and all within it and put human beings at the apex. Man fell and He came to mix with man in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. Having redeemed us by His blood, the Lord continues to live among us in the Holy Spirit. And He invites us to communion.

Paul made it clear in his letter to Corinthians, “Brothers and Sisters: Rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

However, the revelation of God in human history became clearer through His works. In varying ways, he has been showing Himself through prophets and priests and finally revealed Himself through His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That Love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit, which in our Creed is depicted as the One proceeding from the Father and the Son. In John 14:16-17, Jesus promises the Spirit from the Father. And Paul in his letter to the Romans 5:5, says “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” He further says in his letter to the Galatians 4:6, that “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.”

Stating it clearly, Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father. The Father is the Lover, while the Holy Spirit is the Love shared between the Father and the Son. We recite in our creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.”

Moreover, an extract from today’s Preface reads:

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For with your Only Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit

you are one God, one Lord:

not in the unity of a single person,

but in a Trinity of one substance.

For what you have revealed to us of your glory

we believe equally of your Son

and of the Holy Spirit,

so that, in the confessing of the true and eternal Godhead,

you might be adored in what is proper to each Person,

their unity in substance,

and their equality in majesty.

Taking the Most Holy Trinity as our model, let us pray for unity in our families, in the church, and communities. Let us be agents of love and union wherever we go. Unity entails equality, mutual respect and shared vision.

May we always act as agents of God’s love wherever we go and may the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts that we may translate His love into actions. Amen.