The Church doctrine starts that in God, there are three persons who are distinct within the unity one sole nature. The word Trinity comes from the word ‘Trinitas’ means three in one. Trinity reveals to us as Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. Mark mentioned in his gospel that “for all things are possible for God” (Mk, 10: 27). This is a mystery beyond understanding of human being, if God does not help to understand. God is a community person by perfect love and knowledge and communion. Before Christ The Trinity was unknown before Christ. In the time of Abraham many people believe in many gods. But God revealed himself to Abraham as only one God Yahweh. We know Israelites were weak nation on the other hand God made an unforgettable impression on them. He delivered them from Egypt , made agreement on Sinai regarding Ten Commandments. “I the Lord am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that place of slavery. You shall not have other Gods besides me.” (Exodus 20:2, 3) He made them understand through favors, miracles and words so that they can understand .He was only and one God, whose presence brings fear as well as love. But God did not reveal to them as Trinity. Trinity in the New Testament In the gospel of Matthew in chapter 13, he tied to show us God in heaven is the Father who truly loves care and watch us. Jesus gradually brought it out that he was God. He was son of God but not as we are, but true proper Son of God the only begotten of the Father. We find Jesus in some places in the gospels. As Lord of the Sabbath (Mtt, 12:8) able to forgive sin Mk, 2:5 and also Thomas claimed “My Lord, my Lord” (Jhn, 20, 28). As proof of these claims Jesus did many miracles which show that Jesus was God and God the Father was working through Jesus finally he is true Son of God and equal in every way to the Father as Jesus told, “I and the Father are one”(Jhn,10,30) .After Jesus’ Ascension, He sent Holy Spirit to the Apostles. (Jhn14:26) .Saint John says in chapters 14-17 that Holy Spirit is real person together with the Father and Son. We also find in the letters of Saint Paul to the (2 Cor 13:13). The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Many times Saint Paul mentioned God the Father and the Lord and the Holy Spirit in his letters. Oneness of God Many theologians wrote about Trinity Saint John spoke of the “Lord of God” as Second person and this way the thought of the second and third persons as proceeding more and more depths of the God head as salvation story unfold. Tertullian was one of them who contribute the term of person substance and trinity to the theology about the three in oneness of God. As we find in the book of the Act “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”(Act, 2:2). As we know about the Holy Spirit from the Bible that he is vitality and energy of God. God created every thing by the presence of Holy Spirit and He is also called the breath of God in Hebrew it is called ‘Ruah’ Wind of God, Paraclate or advocate who teaches leads, guide and defend us and made every thing real for. God Loving The Father and Son know each other as infinitely good and perfect; it is the function of love to reach out for what is good, to give oneself without reserve to what is lovable. “The love of the Father of r the Son and the Son for Father is so perfect, so much an entire giving of self, that within the very Godhead there comes forth the Holy Spirit as the perfect expression of this love- as expression so perfect that it too is infinite, eternal and in fact a living person, coequal in every respect to Father and Son.”[1] The Bible uses Holy Spirit is not another son but the breath of God. We will come to know these wonderful depths when we see God of three in oneness in heaven. Source of Family As I reflected that Trinity is a figure of family. We Christian people live in harmony peace and justice though it is not following in this time but it is Christian teaching. Where we have been got it, in book of Genesis we find “Let us make man in our image, after our like ness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen, 1:27). When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist one sound came from heaven declaring that Jesus is the Son of God and Holy Spirit Came upon His Shoulder. Jesus mentioned many times that he who has seen Jesus seen God the Father. He also said God and he himself is same. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting” (Act, 2:1).Through the story from the Act we come to know that when they were in communion God came upon them and this is very true that God Him self is a Communion. In the Gospel Jesus mentioned that where as two or three person meet for Him, He will present there in the midst. Perfect Relationship Relationship among the Trinitarian God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are very much concerns to their unity and this relationship encourage me to strengthen my relationship to my own people especially with my parent’s, relatives and friends. Really a good relationship with the people of my society is a sharing of love of God’s love. Truly, it leads me to have a life related with God and it is the source of joy and happiness. Communion The Trinitarian God manifests in one but three in separate and distinct Persons. The Trinitarian God is the source of communion, where as a community tied with God’s love, knowledge and communion. "Live in harmony with one another" (Rom 12: 16).This Trinitarian God leads me to love and live in harmony and peace. Diversity Every body is unique in creation and that is why my personality is also different from others where we find diversity in the life of God. God the Father designs the universe, God the Son saves the creations of God and God the Spirit bless all these things and make it holy, that is why it is a great diversity of life, operation and activity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the one God in the same substance but I and not denying the union of love of the Trinity. “They broke their bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the good-will of all the people” (Acts 2: 46). The Holy Trinity encourages me to be a designer of communal love in my own society. Incarnation of the Son Meaning of the term is to inter into or become flesh. We believe that in the history of salvation of the world, the Son of God while remaining fully divine became truly and fully human. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jhn1:14).Saint Paul speaks of God who sent forth his Son (Gal, 4:4, Rom, 8:3) and of Jesus Christ as the one Lord “through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1Cor, 8:6). Liberty Christian people believe that Christ died for us. He has to be God in order to defeat death by resurrection. He has to be man in order to die on our behalf. “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captive and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” (Lk 4: 18).Jesus Christ came to save our life from all kind of bondages so that we can become totally free man. That’s why Jesus’ self-giving sacrifice alone can cancel the debt of sin. Humble Servant “But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human form, He humbled Himself ” (Phil 2: 8). Jesus became man in order that the will of Father be fulfilled and that is why He humble Himself as servant to the feet of the cross and show the divine love of humankind and this teaches me to become humble as Jesus Christ and deny myself. True Way “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mt 16: 24). Jesus Christ is the knowledge of God that’s why He shows the path of God. I can also show others the true way of life so that they can reach to the Fathers house. Justice and peace We see Christ is showing justice in this very word " I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn 18: 37).He died on the cross and it was the perfect fulfillment of justice,where he quoted the cross is my justification because it is the perfect act of justice. God created me as His dearest and sent me to the earth to establish justice as Jesus did. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven ” (Mt 5: 10). "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11: 28). Jesus Christ became man so that He can establish peace in the world. And this teaches me to establish peace is the world. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (Jn 14: 27).He also encourages me to live in His peace. Conclusion The Trinitarian mystery is really difficult to understand to human being, when we will meet face to face with God in heaven then every will be cleared to us. Though we know the Father as a creator, Son the redeemer of human being and the Holy Spirit who sanctify the earth creation all these are possible because of the help of God. He revealed to us as we can know Him. It is achieved through God's union with human nature, in Jesus Christ who although fully God, humanly died for us to purchase our redemption. This communion with the Father is the goal of the Christian faith, devotion and life, where as we will grow in God when we love one another and forgive others those who sin against us this way we will fulfill the will of God. Bibliography 1. A New Dictionary of Christian Theology. 1943, ed, Richardson Alan, John Bowden, SCM Press Ltd. 2. GOMES, Shyamol scs: Class Note, Introduction toTheology, 2010. 3. BOUYER, Louis: Dictionary of Theology, New York, Desclee Co. Inc.1565. 4. The Catholic Encyclopedia for School and Home, vol.12, New York , McGraw-Hill Book Compay, 1965. 5. The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2003, v. 14, s v, “Holy Trinity”. |
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Most Holy Trinity and Incarnation of the Son
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Dialogue with the people of other faith
Reflection paper
Introduction
"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." As a Christian by birth we are evangelizer. Beyond any doubt, the work of evangelization should be carried on nobody should be deprived of the person and revelation in Jesus Christ. In this process of evangelization we must involve the reality of the plurality of religions. In order to carry out the evangelization dialogue with religions is suggested and evangelization is the mission of the Church. Dialogue with other religions is discussed bellow in some topics which are interrelated and more in the same directions of evangelization.
1. The Theology of Religions
All men form but of one community ...all share in a common destiny, namely God. This is the core of the theology of religions according to Vatican II. It reiterates the Catholic Church, reject nothings of what is true and holy in these religions. In addition, the Catholic Church exhorts the faithful to enter with prudence and charity in to discussion and collaboration with members of other religions. The Church is convinced of and committed to the proclamation of Christ who is the way, the truth and the life, she instructs Christians to acknowledge, preserve, and encourage the perpetual moral truths found among non-Christians and also their social life and culture. Common and connection in all the religions is salvation, and the return of creation as a whole back to God from whom it proceeded. Hence religions are not mere conceptual systems, stands by themselves, but different perspective of the same fact that every thing proceeds from God and returns to Him. The focus of our reflection is God. In God, we have our unity and the answer to the question of religions plurality.
2. Theology of Dialogue
It is the way to peace progress and prosperity and divine design for wholeness, fullness and holiness. The teaching of the Church obliges the Catholics to follow the mind of Jesus. Remaining faithful to our tradition and stating it without ambiguity, we have to show respect to other peoples convictions and show also a willingness to work with them for the good of all people. All human insight is not for selfish hoarding but a trust for creative communication. Each religions experience can throw light on different aspect of human life in its pilgrimage towards God, the ultimate goal.
Inter-Religious Dialogue
Inter religious dialogue is a approach between the people of different religions on particular issues in view of establishing common good .We can say, it is mutual good example and witness of life understanding each other, mutual appreciation of others religiosity without comparison with loyalty to the gospel in the fulfillment of its mission in the world, the church whose duty it is to foster and elevate all that is true, good , beautiful in the human community consolidates peace among men for the glory of God. Since God the Father is the beginning and end of all things. We are all called to be brothers and sisters; we ought to work together without violence and build up the world in a spirit of genuine peace. This process is particularly helpful in deepening the realization. The Church is emerging from self-centeredness towards a maturity that urges her to reach out to all religions and peoples of good will in service and love. Jesus asked Christian to love every body without any discrimination even those who do not believe. Christian must have dialogue of life with others in order to express their love. Inter-religious dialogue and racial harmony in South Asia has been characteristic scenario for a ling time since the arrival of Christianity and Islam in this area. For centuries thereafter the Hindus, Muslims Buddhists and Christians lived side by side in peace and harmony. Though there have always been some local conflicts between the people of different religions especially in Bangladesh
Purposes of dialogue
Dialogue is process where we can meet face to face with the people of different religions especially in Bangladesh
Through inter religious dialogue some objectives can be proposed which develop our understanding own religion.
a. Super natural destiny: to evaluate the historical situation and reflectively express God’s eschatological salvific plan and the meaning of Christ in the context of religious pluralism.
b. Moral and religious values: to emphasis the values traditionally provided by religions.
c. Build up human community: religions emphasizes liberation to human mind and direct the attention to the unity, equality in one authentic human family and their responsibility to give best for the good of all.
3. Theology of Mission
The genesis of the theology of mission is in the person and mission of Christ. Christianity is unique because it proclaims what is implicitly sought in every religion that the human race which one with a single history has effectively encountered God in Jesus of Nazareth. Christ at he centre of the Church’s mission .Following the footsteps of Jesus Christ the missionary church is duty bound to preach the Good News of the kingdom of God
Conclusion
We who live in the world all we are brothers and sisters because the origin of our creation is same and we will return to the same goal. But in the recent years, the religious fundamentalism and fanaticism has been changing the situation and brings religious conflict especially in Bangladesh Bangladesh
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