“WHY do we hear all this stuff about the Trinity?”
The question burst from a man in the audience of a talk of mine. “Why can’t we just be good to each other and go to church?
I answered, “Because.”
“Because the Triune God is not some kind of brainy speculation by scholars. It is simply the way we experience God in this world. Christian living is the Trinity in action” — John Foley, S.J.
The above quote from Fr. John Foley, S.J. fits well into our celebration of Trinity Sunday. Indeed, the Trinity is not just a dogma that we believe and fight for; it’s God’s action in the world. In the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans, it is “the love of God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Rom 5:5)”
Now that these thoughts are relevant and meaningful to us in these times when many people challenge us—politicians and citizens, church leaders and followers—to live authentic Christian lives. Many people now are not willing to put up with hypocrisy and dishonesty in government and church affairs. They’re pleading for transparency, truthfulness, and integrity in a society that is ridden with corruption and greed. They’re tired of false promises; they want real actions and evidence of charity, inclusion, and compassion.
Their voices are God’s voice—the groaning of the Holy Spirit in our lives—that prick our consciences to fight against injustice, poverty, crime, inefficiency, indifference and all forms of evil and degradation.
It is no wonder that many people use the social media to express their discontent and disapproval of the ways leaders govern our nations and churches. Now it’s up to our leaders to listen to their voices. Indeed, should they not take them as voices from God?
If we believe that the Trinity is about the union of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—a love that should penetrate our lives– then we must listen to the voices of our people so that we can imbue the world with the same Trinitarian love.
If indeed, the voices of the people have been heard, those who have been voted and trusted to take leadership in government and church must be made accountable to the much-needed reforms. And as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has rightly said, the church will be “vigilant” collaborators with elected leaders and not improper meddlers in state affairs.
Let’s respond the groaning of the Spirit within us. Let’s bring into action the life of the Trinity. Amen!
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
