Bearing the Trinitarian Image in us

“The grace of Christ Jesus the Lord, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:13).

We, who have been created to the image of the Trinitarian God, today take time to reflect how we have grown in God’s grace, love and fellowship with one another in our life. Are we approaching the fullness of the Trinitarian essence in our relationships within the family and/or community?

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Jesus showed this love of God in his unpretentious kindness and mercy towards the poor, hungry and suffering, healing the sick of their illnesses, giving comfort to children and widows, and revealing his deep identity with the Father: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you!” (Jn 15:12). Like the oldest brother who in Hebrew tradition was the Goêl [defender] he as the only son, the first-born became our Goêl – liberator, savior, redeemer (cf. Lk 2:11, Acts 5:31). He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that announced the coming of the Servant Messiah and he himself said, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).

Jesus gave us an example of great mercy and service so that we, his brothers and sisters, may learn to express our love likewise in true fellowship. To help us is the Holy Spirit that the Father sends each one of us at the Son’s request (Jn 14:16, Jn 16:7-8), to reveal the deep unity in love that exists between Father and son. This must bear fruit in the practice of love within our families and communities. Moreover, the Spirit has “seven eyes” (Rev 5:6) looking through the Lamb of God, evoking his seven gifts/spirits or letters through which Jesus speaks, for they too are one.

John’s apocalyptic language is meant to enhance our understanding of the Spirit’s role in modern times to strengthen us in our journey of love with the Trinity. This is our Faith’s profound mystery of the Trinity, accompanying his people in history, towards the new heaven and the new earth for “he will be God-with-them” (Rev 21:1,3). In our earthly sojourn, the Spirit helps us continue Jesus’ redemptive mission by opening our hearts in fraternal love – “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12). Pope Francis would translate this to constancy in showing mercy and compassion to all, especially the least favored of society.