Trinity Sunday, Year A

Today is the feast day of the Trinity. The foundation of Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity. According to biblical teachings, God is "one God," but simultaneously "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." However, there is no explanation for how these two doctrines reconcile. When Arius taught that the "Son of God" is not equal to the "Father," the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) declared that while God is one, He is three "equal persons": "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." In his *On the Trinity*, Saint Augustine emphasized that while God is unknowable to humans, there are clues in this world that help us understand Him. For example, he said that the human soul is one, but possesses three aspects: "memory, intellect, and will," and also "thought, love, and knowledge." Even so, God will forever remain a "mystery" to humanity.

When explaining the Trinity, I am reminded of the coconut. A "coconut" is made up of "coconut fiber, coconut shell, and coconut flesh." If it were just the fiber, it wouldn't be a coconut. If it were just the shell, it wouldn't be a coconut either. If it were just the flesh, it wouldn't be a coconut. It's only when all three—fiber, shell, and flesh—are present that it can be called a "coconut." Even so, God will forever remain a "mystery" or "enigma" to humankind.

When explaining the "Trinity," the concept of community comes to mind. The first foreign word that comes to mind for community is probably the English word "community." This "community" originates from the Latin word "communitas."

"Communitas" is a noun meaning "sharing" or "joint," but a further analysis reveals it's composed of the parts "com" and "munus." "Com" means "to share." "Munus" has various meanings, but in the church, it's often used to mean "duty" or "office."

Considering this, I believe "communitas" means people sharing their abilities and strengths, each fulfilling their assigned "duties," "roles," and "responsibilities," and exchanging what each individual can offer. In other words, a "community" is something that is formed when people support and cooperate with one another. To put it another way, isn't a "community" a gathering of people who support each other? This is precisely one explanation that fits perfectly with the "Trinity." The Trinity is one community.

"The Father" (God) is the creator of heaven and earth and the one who sustains the world. "The Son" (Jesus Christ) is the Word of God who appeared as a human being and is the one who saves people from sin. "The Holy Spirit" is the invisible power of God that works within believers and realizes God's grace. Although each has a different role, their essence is one (the same God). In other words, "one God" has three faces (forms): "the Father" as the Creator, "the Son" as the Savior, and "the Holy Spirit" that works in the heart. Nevertheless, God will always remain a "mystery" and a "secret enigma" for humankind.