The Mystery of the Holy Trinity

by: Br. Duane M. Cartujano 

We call the Trinity a "Mystery," because it is the main shorthand way we have of talking about God himself. Jesus presents it as the core of the Church's message. Preaching must always be about God, who is the source and foundation of all that is. But we believe that Jesus has revealed to us that God is the unimaginable Being he himself called his "Father," and is Jesus himself as Son of the Father and is the Spirit who comes forth from the Father and Jesus, whom Jesus gives to each of us. The Trinity is the whole Being of God; "in Him we live, and move, and have our Being." We are like little fishes, swimming in the great ocean of God. He is too close for use to see or comprehend.

Calling something in our faith a "mystery" doesn't simply mean we can't explain it, because it is above our ability to know. It also means that it is beyond us because it is a fundamental, all-embracing aspect of reality itself something we are part of. It is beyond us, but also is so near to us that we can't step back to make judgments about it.

The main point of emphasis in Matthew 28.16-20 is that the Mystery of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is meant to be the basis of what we teach and communicate, and of how we live as disciples. It is the heart of what Christians have to teach about God. It tells us where to look for God, and how to think and talk about him.