Holy Trinity, Holy Actions

Our teaching on the Most Holy Trinity is central to Christian Life.

It is expressed in our Creeds and Teachings in a most comprehensive manner.  Yet, at the same time, our proclamation that God is one in three persons is not an abstract belief separated from our life as missionary disciples.  It is the impulse for all evangelisation.

Here is a good example.

In 2007 I was invited to an international youth conference of 8000 people in the southern part of India called Kerala.  It was organised by “Jesus Youth”, a fantastic international Catholic youth network based in Kerala.  They are in most major Australian cities including Canberra.  I am honoured to be one of their Patrons.

In small groups, we were asked  “How has God touched you?” 

A young man said he was part of a group of four or five youth who met daily for prayer and practical charity.  They had heard of a badly deformed baby abandoned by her parents in the area.

God the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts by raising up a moral imperative within them which said: “This is not to be!”  They courageously went to the medical authorities and volunteered to care for the baby.  Eventually the authorities relented and gave the care of the baby to the young people.

Then some beautiful things happened.

They washed, clothed and fed the child.  They named her Elizabeth and had her baptised.  Most of all, they loved her.

In so doing, they imitated God, our loving heavenly Father.  Especially in her baptism, they enabled God to make her a daughter of God.

Two days later, little Elizabeth died.

But the youth leader, in relating the story, was so full of joy.  “She died being loved!” he exclaimed.

This is such a wonderful statement about Jesus, the Son of God who died on the Calvary Cross being love to us for all time.

The young man concluded: “And now we can pray to Elizabeth!  We so much look forward to meeting her again in heaven!

To me, this touching story represented the Holy Trinity in action.  These humble and holy youth activated the life of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in their own baptised lives.

They saw a need and gave that saving Trinitarian life to others.

May the Holy Trinity be active in our hearts where we see need, especially in our Covid-19 world.  Love of the Holy Trinity leads to holy actions.