The Holy Trinity: Then, Now, and Forever

With this passage Peter connects the work of the apostles and the disciples of Christ to that of the prophets of old. The connection is the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit that inspired the prophets of the Old Testament to prophesy about the coming of the Messiah, and the suffering he was to undergo, and the glories that would follow from his coming into the world.

ʺConcerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the suffering destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.ʺ (1 Peter 1:10-12)

With this passage Peter connects the work of the apostles and the disciples of Christ to that of the prophets of old. The connection is the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit that inspired the prophets of the Old Testament to prophesy about the coming of the Messiah, and the suffering he was to undergo, and the glories that would follow from his coming into the world. And Peter is saying to the people he is writing to (and us) that it is that same Spirit who is the inspiration of the knowledge that he and the other apostles and disciples were preaching to them.

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When Jesus came into the world the Spirit was in him and with him. And when Jesus ascended back to heaven he left the Spirit, to be our Advocate, to continue to teach us the truth about things, to be present to us in all that we do in the name of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who dwells in the temple of our souls, who hears our prayers before they even reach our lips. It is that same Holy Spirit who inspires the holy Church and those who teach us in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that calls us to holiness in our own lives. It is through the Holy Spirit that all graces come to us. It is this Spirit, who is God and the Son, now and forever, that gives us various gifts for our benefit and for the benefit of those we love and serve. The Spirit gives us: wisdom, knowledge that is in accord with the Spirit, faith, healing,mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, and tongues. It is the same Spirit who produces all of these gifts, who distributes them individually to each person as he wishes. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

The Holy Trinity is one and the same from all time and forever. That indivisible Oneness is at one and the same time the Creator, the Savior, and the Holy Spirit. God, who created all things seen and unseen; Jesus, who became man and dwelt among us, suffered and died, and rose again; the Holy Spirit, the Advocate who remains with us, continues to inspire and teach us, is, was, and always will be the same, forever. Because of this Holy Trinity, we have never, at any time, been alone, and we will never be alone. It is this knowledge that is the source of all of our faith, all of our hope, and all of our love. It is through the grace of this Holy Trinity that we live, come to know things ʺinto which angels longed to look,ʺ and by which we are empowered to love and to serve one another in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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