A mystery so deep

O holy, undivided Trinity, Creator and Ruler of all that exists, may all praise be yours now, for ever, and for ages unending.

This antiphon, one of many taken from the Liturgy of the Hours for today’s Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, expresses the praise and adoration that we are called go give in a very particular way today to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Today is Trinity Sunday!

Where does one begin to comment on this unfathomable mystery of our faith?! You must know the legend connected with Saint Augustine who spent years trying to understand the reality of the Trinity. One day he was walking on the beach and he saw a little child taking a small cupful of water from the ocean and emptying it into a hole in the sand. “What are you doing,” the Saint asked the child who responded. “I am trying to empty the ocean into this hole.” St. Augustine exclaimed, “you cannot do that; the hole is much too small and the ocean too vast.” The little child responded, “in the same way, neither can you understand the mystery of the Triune God. Your understanding is too limited and the mystery too deep.” Then the child disappeared.

While we cannot understand the mystery, we must acknowledge our belief in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. We do so in the Apostles Creed. And very simply, we do just that every time we make the Sign of the Cross. And we must, through prayer, deepen our personal relationship and grow in intimacy with these three Divine Persons - with God, our Father, with Jesus our Savior and Lord, and with the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Guide. By doing this we give adoration and praise to our Holy, Triune God.