Of Love, From Love, For Love

            Have you ever considered the Trinity?  I always found it extremely difficult to understand that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct beings yet a single being at the same time.   Then someone explained to me that the Father and the Son exist in giving of themselves fully to one another and the love between them is the Holy Spirit (this is easily transferred into a metaphor for marriage and family).  I absolutely love that idea; God himself is love.

I like the use of shamrocks to illustrate the Trinity
because the leaves are shaped like hearts(also Ireland)
picture via Can You Dig It?

            What is almost as wonderful as God being love itself is the fact that we are made in his image.  Have you ever noticed that in Genesis when God creates man he says, “let us create man in our image.”?  I didn't notice this for a really long time.  When it was brought to my attention the use of the plural was being used in an argument for polytheism.  I obviously was not swayed by said argument but it did get me thinking.  Through my reflection, and later priestly confirmation, I realized that the plural was used because God in all three persons have existed in eternity.  Even though I had usually pictured God the Father out there in nothingness by himself he was there with the Son and the Holy Spirit, because they are one.  Jesus wasn't just created when Mary became pregnant.  The Holy Spirit wasn't just created at Pentecost. 

            So what does all of this mean?  What difference does it make that God is three in one and always has been?  Well, if we are really made in their image then we are made in the image of love itself.  That is such a beautiful truth. Take just a minute or two reflect on that fact, YOU are created in the image of love itself.   I think this is especially important for people from broken homes to understand.  I am so blessed to have parents who love each other (their 30^th wedding anniversary is this year), but we are not all so fortunate.  However, just because your parents may not love each other does NOT mean that you were not created out of love.  The LORD created all of us and he did so because he loves us and always has and always will. 

            If we are from love and in the image of love then what does that mean in our life?  It means that we have it in us to love, even on the days when we feel incapable.  We were created for love and relationship.  God is love; God is a relationship.  Isn't

 that mind blowing!  God created us to have a loving relationship with him.

            Do you think that this knowledge will encourage you to love more?  How do you love those around you?  What do you think of the trinity?  Suggestions? Comments? Questions? Drop me a line in the comments below!