Trinity

Most of us have grown up hearing about the Trinity: that there are three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – in one God, and that it is an ineffable mystery.

For some, the doctrine of the Trinity is a bit dry and obscure: not terribly meaningful to one’s daily life.

Today’s first reading, from the Old Testament (Exodus 34), does not mention the Trinity at all, and yet it powerfully conveys to us a sense of what the doctrine of the Trinity means to us and to our relationship with God.

Having come down in a cloud,
the LORD stood with Moses there
and proclaimed his name, "LORD."

Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."

Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O LORD,
do come along in our company.

Moses has a moment of intimate closeness with Infinity and Omnipotence Itself. God not only stands beside Moses, he tells Moses his Name.

This Name is no mere label: it is a revelation of who God is.

The ancient people of Israel were so awed by this revelation that they treated that Name with exceeding reverence. Even today most translations of the Bible will only print “the LORD” rather than use the Name of God that he himself shared with Moses.

The revelation of the Trinity is even more awesome, for it is a revelation that is even deeper and more intimate, because it tells us something – however mysterious and unfathomable - of God’s inner self and because it is revealed in and through Christ – the incarnate Son of God, God with us.

How much does God love us! How deeply does he share with us!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.