St Nikolai Velimirovich-Homily On the mystery of the Holy Trinity

For there are three that bear record in heaven;
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and
these three are one. And there are three that
bear witness in earth; the spirit, and the water,
and the blood: and these three are together
(First John 5.7-8)

When we read the Holy Scriptures, we must be awake to the meaning of every word. In a hurried reading, for instance, the eye will not catch the distinction the Evangelist makes between the heavenly and the earthly trinity. About the heavenly Trinity he says: ‘and these three are one;’ but about the earthly he says: ‘and these three are together.’ There is an enormous difference between being one and being together. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one, while the spirit, the water and the blood are only together, not being one. Even enemies can be together, but not as one. All men on earth are together, but they are not one. Water and blood make up the body, but spirit is spirit. ‘For the flesh warreth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh‘ (Galatians 5.17), so they are not one, although they are together. When a man dies, this association is broken and water and blood go one way and spirit another. Meanwhile the divine Trinity in heaven is not just together, but is one.

But there is a trinity in the interior heaven of man, which must become not just an association but a unity, that he may be blessed both in this world and in that which is to come; that is the unity of mind, heart and will. While these three are only in association, man is at war with his own three parts and the heavenly Trinity. When, though, these three become united, when one is not dominant and the other subservient, then that man is filled with the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4.7), all speech, all explanation, all fear and sorrow. Then the small heaven within man begins to be like the great heaven of God, and the image and likeness of God then become clear within him.

O Triune God, help us to catch some semblance of those who resemble Thee. To thee be glory and praise for ever. Amen.