A friend of mine calls this day a “Concept Feast” meaning that we are celebrating a belief rather than an event which can make what we are acclaiming more difficult to understand. I have heard many examples that try to make sense out of “one God in three persons.” The one I liked the best is H20 (two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom). That same entity can be water, steam, or ice. It made sense to me, but I am no scientist, so there are probably reasons it is not a good analogy. I am certain there are theological reasons it fails too. The bottom line is that all analogies are going to fall short. The Trinity is a mystery, and I’m okay with that.
We do make a distinction at Mass in the actions of the three persons. The final doxology from the Eucharistic Prayers explains how we are praying at Mass. The prayer is addressed to God our almighty Father. We are praying through, with, and in Christ. We are praying in union with the Holy Spirit.
The use of three different prepositions to describe the prayer in relationship with Christ is interesting. We pray “through” Christ who intercedes for us to the Father/Creator God. “For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:5) The prayer is made “with” Christ because of our connection to Christ. “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16-17a) We pray “in” Christ as members of his Body. “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” These distinctions are subtle, but they show important ideas about our relationship with Christ.
Today’s Collect (Opening Prayer) may shed some light. It says that God the Father (Creator) sent into the world the “Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification” by which is made known “your wondrous mystery.” Jesus is the Word of truth; the Spirit sanctifies, makes holy. All of the prayers emphasize the unity and equality of the three persons. Today’s Preface: 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.
Prepare for Mass by praying the Glory be, and by considering the actions of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in your daily life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.