Catholics and many other Christian communities believe in one God, who is Father, Son, and Spirit. St Augustine expressed the understanding this way: God is Lover, Beloved, and the Love between them.

Augustine’s expression, Father/Lover, Son/Beloved, and Spirit/the Love between them, provides a way for us to gaze into the heart of God – a relationship. If we’re created in the image and likeness of God, then what animates and identifies us as persons is also relationship.

So, what does it mean to be in a relationship? In the gospel, Jesus says, “All [the Spirit] tells you will be taken from what is mine.” In the next verse, Jesus also says, “Everything the Father has is mine.” This means that there’s really no “mine” or “yours” in a relationship. In true relationships, “mine” and “yours” become “ours”. This understanding stands counter to the galloping individualism that consumes so much of contemporary society.

Being in a true relationship also means to be vulnerable. It may seem strange to think about God being vulnerable. But, look at God’s vulnerability in the birth of the Son as a helpless baby in a manger, and in Jesus, the Redeemer, giving his life on the cross; vulnerability that comes from God’s overwhelming and heartfelt desire to be in relationship with humanity. For us, in our relationships, when our vulnerability meets the vulnerability of another, there intimacy is found.

It’s easy to relate to family, loved ones and friends. But we mustn’t limit ourselves only to those we know.

To be the person that God desires us to be, we’re to be more than simply individual persons. To discover, and live our best and truest selves, we’re called to reach out beyond ourselves, and relate with others.

Rather than withhold life and love within its dynamic relationship, the Trinity generously reached out beyond itself. God’s lavish love overflowed into creation. God sent the Son into the world live to live with us. God sent the Spirit to sanctify and accompany us throughout life.

A genuine community is one that is open to others and not closed in on itself. That’s why in Andrei Rublev’s famous ‘Icon of the Trinity’, the fourth side of the table is vacant, inviting us to take our place within the Trinity’s relationship of unity and love. The place we most experience the truth of the Trinity is at the table of the Eucharist, when bread and wine, gifts of the Father from creation, are transformed into the life-giving body and blood of the Son, through the action of the Holy Spirit.

God is a perfect communion of persons, who share one nature, and lovingly invite us to share in their life. May we witness through our own lives and deeds, the virtues of community, inclusion, love, respect, generosity, and diversity that the Trinity inspires.

David J Hore CSsR

© Majellan Media 2025