by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
Today is the Feast of Trinity Sunday, one of the most profound mysteries of our faith. We often declare our belief in this mystery. For example, last Sunday, I celebrated confirmation Mass, and part of that ceremony always is the candidates proclaiming their belief in the mysteries of our faith, and it’s usually in the form of questions.
I ask the candidates: “Do you believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth? Do you believe in Jesus, God’s only son, who was born of Mary, suffered, died, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who came to the disciples at Pentecost, who comes to you today in the sacrament of confirmation?” Each time, the candidates respond, “I do, I do, I do,” and they usually say it with great enthusiasm and conviction as they’re proclaiming their belief in this profound mystery of our faith.
We do it every Sunday as we recite the creed in our liturgy. But I wonder as we recite those words, as we proclaim this belief in this profound mystery of our faith, are we really aware of what we are saying? Yes, there’s only one God, one God, but that one God is three persons: father, son and spirit. How can that be? This is one of those mysteries of our faith that escapes reason, like the Incarnation….