Feast of the Blessed Trinity

The Jewish God is one. So is the Christian God.
There are 3 persons in the Christian God. This is a new understanding beyond Judaism.
The Christian God is good. He loves His Creation, in particular, human beings who fail Him.
God is love. He does not wish our perish. He sent His Son to redeem us.
The Son of God reveals us the Father. In the Son, we are able to see the Father, only partially because of our limited capacity. But one thing we are sure. God is love.
When the Son accomplished His mission, He returned to the Father. But He did not leave us behind like orphans. He sent His Spirit to sanctify us.
"and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)
After all, the Son has not left us completely. Meanwhile, we have a lot to learn about our God.

First of all, early believers, most of whom were Jews, gradually came to the understanding that Jesus of Nazareth was no mere mortal. He was God incarnate. This belief in one more God brought the early Christians in direct conflict with the Jews. Then, there arose three hundred years of argument about the two natures of Jesus among Christians, both Gentile and Jewish. Jesus is both human and divine. If he were divine, how could he die on the cross? Was the crucifixion a death in appearance, a show only? These were difficult questions posed against Christians.

Then, after struggling for more than 300 years, early Christians came to understand that the Christian God is a community. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit form a community. As the followers of the Son, we form a community, the Church. Before the Son returned to the Father, He commissioned the redeemed believers to continue His mission.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20a).
To baptize the converts in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is a liturgical formula. This formula is recited in all baptisms. It expresses what the Christians believe in. But this was not always the case. For example, in the Acts of the Apostles, early Christians baptized in the name of Lord Jesus only (Acts 8:16, 10:48, 19:5). Therefore, it shows a gradual understanding, an evolving theology of God. In the beginning, Christians baptized in the name of Lord Jesus only. This baptism also gave converts the Holy Spirit. Later, Christians came to understand the Blessed Trinity more, they began to baptize in the name of the Blessed Trinity. Their liturgy expresses their beliefs.

The Great Commission in Matthew 28 aims at building up a sacred community among the nations, to actualize the Blessed Trinity on earth.
With our limited capacity and different experiences, our understanding of the Blessed Trinity is not uniform. But one thing we are sure. God is love. That is to say, the Blessed Trinity is a community of love. There are different kinds of community but all of them occupy space. Some are loosely connected and mingle generously with other neighbouring communities. They exchange information and resources, thus enriching each other. Some are tightly knitted and will not admit outsiders easily. But all communities exist for a purpose of their own. Each of them has their own characteristics.
Some communities are big in size. In order to stick together, members are highly disciplined through the exercise of authority. The range of influence of love is short. It is inversely proportional to the size of the group. Therefore, in order to maintain a huge community of love, the exercise of authority is essential. Authority is cold and love is warm. Therefore, there is always a tension between exercising authority and love in a huge community. To strike a balance between authority and love is an art.
The Blessed Trinity is a community of love. It is a mystery to contemplate.

Dear Lord, my intellect is futile. I offer up my heart. Let it drink to its full of Your love. Amen.