As if his own life, his teachings about God’s love, his miracles, his death and resurrection were not enough, Jesus told us something about God that we never would have imagined: There are three Persons in one God. It is also something we cannot completely comprehend. Instead of trying to explain it, let’s look at what it means for us believers.
One thing it shows is that God wants to be known by us. In ancient times, people would expect their gods to be mysterious and hidden. Many cultures thought that you could control a spirit or god if you knew its name. God sees us not as a threat, but as beloved children. Just as a couple falling in love wants to know everything about each other, so God wants to be known by those whom God loves. That leads to my second point.
The Trinity also shows us that “God is love” (1 John 4:16) because the three Persons are united in one God. God calls us to be united in love with God and with each other. Remember that God knows us perfectly and still loves us. Yet knowing our weaknesses and sins does not hurt God’s love for us. On the contrary, our weaknesses allow God to help us by forgiving sins or inspiring someone to come to our assistance. We may not be able to grasp the full meaning of the Holy Trinity, but knowing that God shares this with faithful people helps us to love God even more.
Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications