THE GOD OF COMMUNION AND COMMUNICATION
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is not just the central mystery of the Christian faith, but also the demonstration of three persons of the Divine Trinity as God of communion and communication. In this Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, the Church celebrates our belief that God is One and yet Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in majesty and glory, One in Three and Three in One.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly expresses it: “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. ¨ It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the “hierarchy of the truths of faith. (CC 234; cf. Baptism, the Sign of the Cross)
OUR THEME
The readings of this solemnity invite us to be conscious of the creating, saving and sanctifying presence and power of God in our lives. They create in us the awareness that the Trinitarian God is a close Presence to us.
It is an unfathomable mystery we could understand its manifestation in the history of our faith and salvation and in accordance/with revealing the truth and adoring its profundity in liturgical celebrations.
The readings show us one simple spiritual fact God is a God of communion and communication. That is to say, the nature and relational attitude of the Trinitarian God is both communal and communicative. This mode of being is expressed through love the bond of unity and existence among the Trinitarian Persons.
Today’s readings from Proverbs, Romans, and John are all about “pouring out.” God pours Self out in Word; God and Word pour out the Spirit to help us pour ourselves out, and the Spirit pours forth Faith and strength and character. Instead of spelling out the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, today’s readings summarize the effects of the Trinity in our daily lives.
In summary, the mystery of the Holy Trinity is known through the divine revelation of the Godhead in human Salvation history. Hence, our history of Faith and the works of the Trinity revealed to us the nature of the Godhead: God, the Father-Creator; (Prov. 8:22-31); God the Son-Redeemer (Rom. 5:1-5) and God, The Holy Spirit-Sanctifier (Jn. 16:12-15) of the world.
FIRST READING: PROVERBS 8: 22-31
God, the Father is the Creator of the Universe through Wisdom and Intelligence: the creative love in action. The author of the book of Proverbs not only gives the creative power of the Trinitarian God but also of his imminent closeness to us.
In essence, the Book of Proverbs reflects on Wisdom, a quality which that book identifies with God. The Wisdom of God is not of power to control or dominate creation but to direct its purpose in a creative way to express and demonstrate the nature and being of God as a relational God.
SECOND READING: ROMANS 5:1-5
There is a living hope in Christ Jesus, who is our Saviour through grace, peace, love, and faith. God, the Son: Saviour of the world through sacrifice and self-donation, the redemptive love in action.
Yet, the co-creative, redemptive and sanctifying work of the Trinity is evident in Paul`s writing. Thus, St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, teaches us that we have peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ and that the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
It is a relational and a functional community of equals and a true demonstration of the true bond of love to create, save and sanctify us and the world.
THE GOSPEL: JOHN. 16:12-15
The Revealed Truth and the Mystery of faith are understood through the Holy Spirit: our Sanctifier, Consoler and teacher through the fire of love, sanctifying and comforting love in action.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus, the Son of God, mentions the role of the Holy Spirit, His close relationship with God the Father and what the Holy Spirit is going to do for us as we go about our daily tasks.
Therefore, God has revealed to us three separate functions that are carried out by the three Persons. He has told us that it is proper to attribute to God the Father, the work of creation; to God the Son, the work of Redemption, reconciliation and of healing.
Equally, we are made to see the Holy Spirit`s work of guidance in truth, in the work of teaching and the work of sanctification. As Spirit, God remains with and within us as Paraclete: Guide, Advocate and Consoler.
SAINT AUGUSTINE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
There is this ancient story of St. Augustine one of the greatest theologians of the Church. He wanted to solve or understand fully the sacred mystery of the Godhead: of three distinctive Persons in One God – yet One in Nature, One in Glory and One in Majesty.
So, he went to the seashore to think and reflect on it. Meanwhile, observed a little boy who made a little hole on the seashore and continually fetched the seawater into the little hole. Augustine became curious about the little boy and asked him what trying to do. The boy responded I want to empty the whole sea water into the tiny hole I have made.
Augustine laughed at the boy and told him, it is impossible! And the little boy responded in the same way, so too, you cannot comprehend the mystery of the Godhead. An immense mystery of the Faith.
Our Faith is reason-seeking understanding, yet the how? Or why? Scratching the surfaces of the mysteries of Faith is essential. Thus, the mystery of faith is not something we cannot understand completely. we can understand the mysteries of faith to the capacity of our human reason according to the divine revelation.
THE THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE TRINITARIAN GOD WE CELEBRATE TODAY ARE:
1. In God, there is a living community or family of love, sharing and cooperation
2. There is an indivisible Unity; a bond of love. In God, there is a relationship, community and communication.
3. There is equality of nature in the diversity of beingness.
4. The unity in diversity of the Holy and Blessed Trinity is all-inclusive with exceptions.
5. There is NO hierarchical structure in the Trinitarian God. The three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal in nature and existence.
6. There is unity in diversity and not uniformity in the Trinitarian Godhead. God the Father not the Son or Spirit, nor the Son is the Father and Spirit. Equally, the Spirit is not the Son or, the Father.
7. The three Persons are distinctive in character but equally in nature and substance. There is individuality but not individualism is the Godhead.
8. The feast of Godhead: The Most Holy Trinity is not only one of profound mystery but one of great challenge to us all as Christians as well as the Christian community.
9. Three distinctive Persons in One Divine Godhead of perfect harmony and working for the creation, salvation and sanctification of the world and us.
10. The implication of the Holy Trinity is an active and lively Christian life amidst a vibrant Christian unity. Individuality-in-Unity! The mystery of the Trinity challenges us to this spiritual consciousness: to believe in and cling to the great Faith of peace, unity and love of the Trinitarian and Communitarian Godhead. As well, we should practice living out this unity and harmony in our human community, family and world despite our differences.
Let us practice the I–God–my neighbour vertical and horizontal Trinitarian relationships in this life by loving God.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, today, as we honour Father, Son and Spirit, let us seek to live these mysteries more profoundly in our lives. The Godhead of Three-in-One is a mystery of individuality, community and unity without individualism, division or dissension. May we learn that the Christian life and faith is one of deep unity and community. Amen
Oh Most Holy Trinity, we firmly believe that in the divine plan of all ages: God-Abba (Creator) planned salvation by sending the Son (Saviour) and Spirit (Sanctifier) to lead us to eternal life. Glory to the Tri-Uno God—Father, Son, Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
