OCIA Session 4: The Trinity & God’s Love

Welcome back! You’ve made it to Session 4 - and that’s no small thing. At this point, you’ve already learned what OCIA is, who Jesus Christ is, and how God speaks through Scripture and Tradition. Today we take on the central mystery of Christianity: the Trinity. Now, don’t panic. The Trinity can feel like theological rocket science. But remember: the Church doesn’t expect you to solve the mystery - just to enter into it. St. Augustine once said, “If you think you understand God, it’s not God you understand.” So relax. By the end of today, you won’t have a math equation that explains “1 equals 3,” but you will have a deeper sense of how the Trinity is not just a doctrine to memorize - it’s the heartbeat of your life.

God Is Love

Let’s start simple. God is love. Not “God has love.” Not “God shows love sometimes.” God is love. That’s His essence. And here’s the key: love always involves relationship. You can’t love all by yourself. Love requires three things:

The lover.
The beloved.
The love they share.

That’s the Trinity:

The Father loves.
The Son is the beloved.
The Holy Spirit is the love shared between them.

Humor Break

Think of the Trinity like a divine family photo. The Father’s not grumpy in the corner, the Son’s not rolling His eyes, and the Spirit isn’t photobombing. They’re perfectly united - an eternal, unbreakable bond of love.

The Trinity in Scripture

The Trinity isn’t a later invention. It’s revealed in Scripture:

At Jesus’ baptism, the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Notice: one name, three Persons.

Interactive Reflection

Pause for two minutes. Think of a time you felt loved deeply - by a parent, friend, spouse, or even a child. Multiply that love by infinity, and you get a glimpse of the love within the Trinity. Now realize: that love is what God pours into you through the sacraments.

The Trinity in Daily Life

Here’s the beauty: the Trinity isn’t just a theological puzzle. It shapes how we live:

When you pray “Our Father,” you’re speaking to the Creator who loves you.
When you follow Jesus, you’re walking with the Son who lived like you.
When you feel nudged to do good, comfort someone, or grow in courage, that’s the Holy Spirit at work.

Parish Connection

Every time you walk into church, you dip your hand in holy water and make the Sign of the Cross. That’s a mini profession of faith in the Trinity. Don’t just rush it like you’re swatting a mosquito. Slow down. Mean it. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” And at Mass? Almost every prayer is Trinitarian. The priest prays to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Once you notice it, you’ll see it everywhere.

Humor Break #2

You know you’re Catholic when you see a baseball player cross himself before batting and think, “He must be praying to hit a home run in the name of the Trinity.”

Interactive Activity

Pair up with someone (or reflect silently if you’re watching alone). Share which Person of the Trinity you feel most connected to right now - Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. Why? There’s no wrong answer. It’s about relationship.

Action Step

This week:

Begin or end each day with the Glory Be prayer. It’s short, but it sums up the Trinity perfectly.
- “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…”
At Mass, listen for every time the Trinity is mentioned. You’ll be surprised how often it happens.

Closing

So what is the Trinity? It’s not a riddle to solve - it’s the mystery of God’s love revealed to us. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit aren’t just “parts” of God. They are God. And they invite you into that eternal exchange of love. Next time, we’ll talk about the Church - what it means to be part of the Body of Christ, why Catholic identity matters, and how your parish is more than just a building with pews. Until then, remember: every time you cross yourself, you’re proclaiming the greatest truth of all - that God is love, and you are caught up in it.

next class:
OCIA Session 5: The Church – The Body of Christ and Catholic Identity