A story is told about St Augustine of Hippo who went to some part of ancient Rome in search of a solitude and serene environment in order to reflect on and find a sound and full meaning and understanding of the concept of the Trinity.
On his arrival, he is said to have met a young boy who had dug a hole playing with it. And Augustine questioned him, young man, what are you trying to do? The boy retorted, I am trying to fill this small hole by fetching and emptying the water in the sea into this small hole but by the time I go and fetch the next batch of water, the water in the hole is drained n gone.So Augustine said, but how possible is this? Can’t you see is just not possible?
And in return, the small boy told Augustine, just as my attempt to fill this small hole or pit with the whole ocean is just impossible, the same way is impossible to understand fully the concept of the Trinity.
Some Church Fathers say the child was little Jesus who appeared to St Augustine.
THE ANALOGY:
In Catholic theology, even though the doctrine on the Most Holy Trinity is a mystery, however, it could be understood somehow with the limited or finite human mind using an egg, a coconut or an orange but shall we consider using an egg: the egg that we eat.
Looking at an egg on itself is a complete food or proteinous product that can be touched.
But as a complete or full substance, it has three (3) divisions or compositions or layers:
(I)the shell that covers it.
(II)the albumen/the white or whitish part that covers the yoke and
(III)the yoke
The truth is that, even though all the three parts or compositions of an egg all come together to form a complete egg, however, one realises each of the three parts or layers that make up an egg is on its own, independent and never mixes with the other part(s) of the egg.
At the same time, one realises there is some kind of link or relationship or communion(if you like) between the three parts or composition of the egg.That is the Most Holy Trinity for you and I.
THE THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING:
It is about One God who is seen in three Persons.
If you like, One God in three compositions.
The three Divine Persons even though one God or entity, they are distinct(or different if you like) and if you like, “separated” from each other just like the egg parts or layers: each part stands on its own but they are commune to form one egg. But each part of the egg is called an egg just like we call the three parts that together form one full egg. There is communion or union of love that binds them together.
And in the three Persons who together form one God are of the same nature, substance and essence.
The Father is God; the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God but
the Father is not the Son,
the Son is not the Father ,the Holy Spirit the Father nor the Son and the Son too is not the Holy Spirit.
Even though each Divine has his specific function, they work together.
(Multifunctional unity)
THEIR DISTINCT FUNCTIONS:
(1)The Father is the Creator
(2)The Son is the Spoken Word of God that dwelt among us.
(3)The Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier and the binding force(unifier)among them.
But they all unite to undertake one common Divine Act in spite of their different functions.
So, at Creation in Genesis 1:1ff, as you and I know, God is seen as the Author of Creation(or simply, Creator)who initiates it, with the Spoken Word of God being Christ, the Incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters(if you like, the Sanctifier who perfects the Creative Act of God the Father in His Spirit With the Son.
CONCLUSION
Fellow Catholics, that is the dogma on the Most Holy Trinity well explained using analogy to somehow grasp and comprehend it as Catholics.Let us not allow some people to confuse and deceive us by polluting us for the Most Holy Trinity is the basis and foundation of our Catholic faith and that begins and ends all our liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations showing how important it is to the Catholic Church.
Thanks so much for your time and God richly bless you.
By: Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso
Chaplain,
(Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy.)
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