Relationships, like life, can be very challenging as we grow and change, and it is said that we must work on our relationships to make them succeed. The relational concept of the Holy Trinity is no different. It can be a gradual working project of “getting to know you”—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— perhaps a lifelong work in progress.
But if advancing through life and theological principles(!) seem like too much work, we can start slow like learning to ride a two wheeler bike. We can start with a Big Wheel (remember those?) then we advance to a tricycle, eventually working our way up to balancing our way on a two-wheeler. So let’s give this tricycle a try on Trinity Sunday as we “try” to understand the triad relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The First Reading presents God as Creator with Wisdom. In the Second Reading we are reminded of the help of the Holy Spirit, and in the Gospel, Jesus adds this caveat: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” We are slow learners apparently. Nevertheless, God offers us not one but three personal teachers who are co-equal in their essence of God to help us. Sound confusing?—it is a bit—but as we advance in our progress from Big Wheel to two-wheeler—we can say “Jesus Take the Wheel!” For we have the wind at our back in our quest to understand the Trinity. This windy helper will 1) “declare to you the things that are coming,” 2) The helper will “take from what is mine and declare it to you,” and again 3) “the helper will declare it to you.”
Well, “I do declare!” says Jesus three times. And it sounds like southern belle talk à la Scarlett O’Hara. Remember her from the famous epic, historical romance film Gone with the Wind? “Well, I do declare” is an old-fashioned exclamation used to express surprise or shock. It’s similar to saying “Wow” or “My goodness.” Likewise, Jesus “declares” that the Spirit will guide you to all truth.
So today we are “Here with the Wind”—as opposed to “Gone with the Wind”—as the Holy Spirit blows an increased understanding that we have three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—all distinct personalities of one God to assist us and to love. They all help us gradually understand that relationships are complicated, but well worth the effort and the learning curve for “After all, tomorrow is another day!”