One way to approach the Trinity is to imagine it as God’s infinite ability to meet us – each of us, all the time – exactly where we are, exactly what we are doing, with the understanding that we aren’t always in the same place.  Our emotional and spiritual needs change constantly.  God’s perfect knowledge and care of us includes knowing that we require more than a single image of God’s divine presence in our lives.

Sometimes, we need God, the Father. We need that ideal parent who loves us no matter what, who believes in our ability to be who He asks us to be.  God lets us make mistakes and is there for us when we regret and move on from them.  Children tend to believe their parents are all-knowing and all-powerful, and they feel safe there.  As adults, we know different – yet our parents are often the people we call when we need sympathy and support.  One dimension of our humanity is a deep need to be lovingly parented.

Other times, we need God, the Redeemer. The Christ who was born and grew and lived a fully human life, and died in pain and sorrow and suffering. He got angry when people failed to understand how to love God and each other. He needed the comfort of the anointing oil before going to his brutal death. We clearly need Christ’s humanity to remind us that our own is sacred.

Often, for us, the divinity of the Holy Spirit is the most innate impression of God’s presence. We can feel the Holy Spirit around us when we raise our voices together in prayer and hymn, and when we pray alone and in silence.  In meetings, we pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us to be the people God calls us to be, and do the work God calls us to do.

Tina Clark, edited by Lloyd Baugh SJ