The Most Holy Trinity

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (28:16-20)

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20  •  The Holy Trinity

Over the years Bible Alive has been invited to many churches to speak about our work and apostolate. We welcome this opportunity, always enjoy it and find it very fruitful in terms of spreading the word, so to speak. However, one thing we have noticed, which may come as a surprise, is that the date in our diary which fills up quickest is always Trinity Sunday. Noticing this pattern, we enquired about it and the priests were honest and candid enough to confess that of all the Sundays in the year they found Trinity Sunday the most difficult to preach at and so they relished the chance to step down. All joking aside, isn’t this a shame as the opposite should be true – they should be guarding and protecting this day in their calendar as nothing could be a greater privilege than to preach on the most wonderful mystery of all, the holy and blessed Trinity. 
Christianity is one of the three major world religions, alongside Judaism and Islam. There is no way around the fact that the Christian faith has elements within it which are utterly offensive to adherents of the two other faiths. This teaching of the Blessed Trinity, revealed in the incarnation of the Son of God, is one of them. The notion that God would enter human time and space and would allow himself to be humiliated by being put to death by crucifixion is unthinkable to Judaism and Islam. Jews and Muslims are united in their shared conviction that God is One, yes, but definitely not Three in One. 
The greatest mystery of Christian truth is that in the Godhead there are three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Faith allows us to accept this revelation. Faith allows us to rejoice in it and enter into it. A famous icon by Rublev depicts the Trinity as three angels around a table with a space reserved for another guest. We are that guest, because by the grace of baptism we are invited to partake, enjoy and immerse ourselves in the mystery, light and glory of the triune life of God. 
‘O eternal trinity, God, you are an abyss, a deep sea; you have given yourself to me – what greater good could you give? By your light you enlighten our minds, as by your light you have brought me to know you.’ (St Catherine of Siena)