Growing up in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood, I often faced questions about my faith from my friends. One of the most challenging questions was about the Holy Trinity. They would ask how I believed in one God when it seemed like I was worshiping three. I struggled to answer, feeling like I was losing confidence in my faith. However, I knew I couldn't avoid the question. As a person of faith, I had to be able to account for my beliefs.
Saint Peter wrote, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). He encouraged me to be thoughtful, prepared, and confident in sharing my faith with others.
My Muslim friends' challenge motivated me to learn about the Holy Trinity. My journey to understanding the Holy Trinity began at home. My mother taught me to pray and make the sign of the cross, introducing me to the concept of the Trinity. Later, my father guided us in praying the rosary, where we would repeat the Holy Trinity prayer. In seminary, I studied the Holy Trinity in depth, learning about its mysteries through prayer and the Eucharist.
My understanding deepened during my time at the philosophy and theology school, where I spent a semester studying the Holy Trinity. I also learned from sermons on Trinity Sunday, some of which inspired and strengthened my faith, while others left me confused.
As a priest, I've faced the challenge of preaching about the Holy Trinity. Like many preachers, I've cited the story of Augustine and the child filling a small hole in the beach with the ocean water, illustrating the impossibility of fully understanding the mystery with our limited minds.
Saint John Paul II wrote, "A great mystery, a mystery of love, an ineffable mystery, before which words must give way to the silence of wonder and worship."
I also found the teachings of the Church on the Holy Trinity at the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). It highlights how crucial it is to comprehend the Trinity to strengthen our faith. Understanding the Trinity can deepen our faith and help us to better appreciate the mystery of God's nature (CCC 43). Moreover, the Trinity is the basis for our worship and praise of God and is reflected in our liturgical prayers and sacraments (CCC 266-267).
Through my faith journey, I've come to realize that while understanding the Holy Trinity is important, it's equally important to live out the mystery. Since the Trinity is about unity and relationships, it is our duty as Church members to foster these qualities in our local communities.
Every Christian needs to learn about the Holy Trinity, not just through books or lessons, but by living out unity and relationships as reflected in the Trinity's life. If all Christians lived in unity and harmony, they would be witnesses to the truth of the Holy Trinity's mystery. Living in the Holy Trinity is more important than understanding its mystery. (*)