When we renew our baptismal promises at Easter, we will state that Jesus is God, the Lord, the uniquely begotten, eternally begotten Son of God.

If Jesus is God and if God the Father is God, does that mean that there is more than one God? If not, are Jesus and the Father part of God but not God individually? But if each one is God, doesn't that make two gods? How can three Persons be one God? Isn't the Trinity a denial of monotheism? It is not easy to answer these questions. They can seem illogical, but they are trans-logical. They are not contradictory; they are mystery.

Jesus began to reveal His divinity and the Trinity when He said:

• "The Son cannot do anything by Himself — He can do only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise" (Jn 5:19).
• "Everything the Father does He shows Him" (Jn 5:20).
• "Just as the Father raises the dead and grants life, the Son grants life to those to whom He wishes" (Jn 5:21).
• "The Father Himself judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all men may honor the Son just as they honor the Father" (Jn 5:22-23).
• "Just as the Father possesses life in Himself, so has He granted it to the Son to have life in Himself" (Jn 5:26).

Only by grace can we renew our baptismal promises by believing in Jesus' divinity and the Trinity. Accept this great grace.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 18, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2001