In Three Persons, One
God: Growing in Relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Allison
Gingras offers a primer in developing a personal relationship with the three
persons of the Blessed Trinity. In her introduction, Gingras refers to the
Gospel passage of Luke 8:4-15. That parable is about the farmer who went out to
plant seed. Some fell on a footpath, where it was eaten by birds. Other seed
feel upon the rocks where the plants sprouted but quickly died due to lack of
moisture. The seed that fell among thorns was soon choked, but the seed that
fell on fertile ground grew and produced a mammoth crop. We want to be the
fertile soil that basks in God’s Word and spreads it to others, but how can we make
sure that we are fulfilling that purpose? This is Gingras’ purpose in writing
this book.
The first three chapters each focus on one person of the Trinity:
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Gingras invites us to
move into a relationship of trust with God the Father, to acknowledge the humanity
and understanding of Jesus and to seek the great help that the Holy Spirit can
provide. Each chapter provides the opportunity to look up relevant Scripture
passages and to journal about one’s answers to reflection questions.
The last three chapters further develop the qualities of God
as compassionate, trustworthy, and forgiving. These aspects of God require a
response from us. We need God’s love and we need to acknowledge that need. We
can’t make it through this life on our own. God desires for us to love Him in
return. This is why he gave us the gift of free will – so that we might choose
to be in relationship with Him.
When we love God, we learn to trust Him. As Gingras readily
admits, such trust is not always easy. She writes, “I see trust in the rearview
mirror. I am not always able to see what God is doing at the time God is doing
it. I struggle with great anxiety, and even fear sometimes, as I work through
God’s plans and give up my will for His.” She acknowledges that despite the
difficulty, when we do “Let go and let God,” “we realize that His plans for us
are always better than our own plans could ever be.”
We also need to accept God’s gift of forgiveness and, in
turn, ask for that forgiveness when we have failed. As Catholics, we have the
wonderful gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The more we make use of it,
the better our relationship with God will be.
Three Persons, One God
is a short book, designed for the person just beginning to want to deepen her relationship
with God. Perhaps faith feels perfunctory or life simply feels like it is
missing something? If so, then this book is definitely one worth reading. It is
also a wonderful book to recommend to someone who wants to learn more about the
three persons of God. It is easy-to-understand and emphasizes the personhood of
God.
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