Our relationships move to a deeper level every time we reveal more about ourselves to another. Self-revelation is an act of trust. Another person’s self-revelation is also an act of their trust in us. Entrusting someone with who we are means we want the other person to really know us. We want the person to be familiar with what keeps us going each day, what we like, what we do not like and what we value.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is a celebration of God’s profound revelation of self-identity. It reminds us that we have been entrusted with God’s identity as a Trinity of persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As in any relationship, this is perhaps a risky revelation because it is hard for our minds to grasp how there could be one God who is manifested in three distinct persons. We can be frustrated by such a mysterious divine identity or we can be honored that we have been entrusted with the truth about who God is.
Even though we cannot fully understand the reality of one God who is three persons, God’s deep love for us is made clear through such a revelation. In our human relationships, even though someone shares with us details about who they are, we can still find the person difficult to understand. The truth is, it is not so much an understanding of the person that is important. What matters is that they have loved us enough to trust us with their true selves. The same is true of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not so much about understanding how it all works as it is to be filled with joy that we have been given such a divine revelation.
We face many mysteries as people of faith. We have unanswered questions about pain and suffering, life and death. These are among the ultimate questions of our existence that we cannot fully answer. This at times can be frustrating. The celebration of the Most Holy Trinity can be an opportunity to transform our frustration into delight and gratitude. Delight that God loves us so much we have been entrusted with his identity and gratitude that we can reciprocate by bringing the self-giving love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit to others and to the world.
Together in faith,
Very Reverend Christopher H. Smith, Rector