***
Gospel: John 16: 12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Over the last century, psychologists like Sigmund Freud have studied the human mind, curious to know what makes us tick.
Why do we behave in certain ways? How do we cope with living in an imperfect world? How do we respond to stimulation, even trauma?
***
Perhaps one of the more interesting psychological conditions they’ve identified is narcissism. It’s been defined as, “extreme self-involvement to the degree that it makes a person ignore the needs of those around them.”
While we don’t know the precise cause, it may be a reaction to trauma. For example, if a person experiences deep shock and isn’t able to cope, then he or she begins putting up emotional walls to avoid ever feeling hurt again.
This fear of hurt becomes so severe that it prevents that person from entering into deep, nurturing relationships.
***
Although narcissism is rare, psychologists also say that this tendency to put walls up is something that we all do in mild form; it’s a defense mechanism.
We can all identify a moment when we were hurt: someone bullied us on the bus; we were harassed at work; we were a victim of racism or prejudice; we lost a loved one; or experienced a broken heart.
So, we put up a wall, which may be temporary or long-standing.
***
This tendency to defend – or separate – ourselves from others dates back to the Garden of Eden.
What happened when God questioned Adam and Eve? “Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat?” God asks Adam.
(Eve, here comes the bus).
“She made me do it!” he says.
Adam separates himself from Eve. He fears being punished by God for a mistake that he freely made, so he places the blame on Eve. With that, Adam and Eve’s unity is broken – and by extension, the unity of all mankind.
***
How many of us have had an “Adam and Eve” experience? A relationship we once valued was damaged, even broken?
***
This is what makes being human so hard. We all want to experience intimacy; we all want to enter into relationships with other people. We want friends, perhaps a spouse, companions for our journey.
Sometimes those relationships hurt us, so we start to defend ourselves. But, why do we not give up? In spite of being hurt, why are we willing to try again?
Because we were made in the image and likeness of God, who lives in relationship.
***
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, our belief that God is One in Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
While this is ultimately a mystery – God’s inner life is beyond our understanding – what we might say is this: God lives without walls.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit love one another so intensely that their bond cannot be broken; they cannot be separated.
They are the opposite of Adam and Eve.
We were made in this image and likeness; like magnets, we’re drawn to other people because we have this innate desire to live like God does – in perfect harmony with those around us.
***
This is God’s will for us – to live together. To live in peace.
So, where might I need the Lord’s help? What relationship in my life needs some repair?
***
Hurt is part of being human. Separation is part of our story, dating back to Adam and Eve.
But today’s feast reminds us that we were made – not for brokenness – but for harmony.
The more we strive for that unity, the more we reflect the inner life of God.
And who doesn’t want that?
***
***
Image credits: (1) The Trinity, Taddeo Crivelli (2) About Childhood Trauma Recovery (3) Trinity, Andrei Rublev