The Holy Trinity has long baffled many of us, including many scholars. But it seems to me that it is all about relationships that teach us the nature of God in his infinite manifestations. God three-in-one: creator-father, son and holy spirit. We recognize God in the beauty of this earth, and in the magnificent complexity of all his creations. We know him as Abba, father, an all-loving and all-knowing one. Through the gift of his beloved son he grants us the gift of endless forgiveness and eternal life. We see his spirit manifest through the thousands of small miracles all around us and in the multiple acts of kindness and sacrifice by those who live in his spirit. He is father, he is son, he is spirit. In his love for the son he teaches us of his love for us. We experience him through the Holy Spirit. In Luke’s account of Jesus’ baptism, God says, “You are my son, the Beloved, in you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21)
The psalmist asks us to trust, take delight, commit and be still with God. What a simple prescription! How little it seems that God asks of us when his gifts are so great. We are his beloved after all and wouldn’t we want to offer him everything he desires. Yet how difficult we find it. When you think about it, isn’t this the same way we would like to be in our human relationships: to trust, take delight, commit and be still with them. Be still and listen. If this is how it can be in human relationships, how much more delightful, trusting and committed our relationship with God should be, he who calls us beloved through his son.
Today, St. Valentine’s day, we send cards and flowers to our loved ones. Even though this day has been greatly commercialized, it does serve as a reminder to be grateful for all those we love. Perhaps it can sharpen our awareness that love is what it is all about. God is love. We are all his creation and so the greatest gift we can give to another is to love one another as he loves us.
A blessed St. Valentine’s Day to you.
— Alice Meador
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