THEME: ONE GOD, THREE PERSONS
READINGS: Proverbs 8:22-31/ Romans 5:1-5/ John 16:12-15
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
INTRODUCTION
In today’s gospel reading, our Lord Jesus Christ referred to God as His Father, while assuring His disciples of the coming of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:12-15). Similarly, in the second reading, the three Divine Persons are mentioned: God [the Father], whose Son is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 5:1-5). This mystery of one God yet three Persons is what we call the Holy Trinity.
- SOME ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY
The Holy Trinity is the supreme mystery of the Christian faith: God is one, yet we believe in the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. While we may not fully comprehend this mystery, a few illustrations may aid our understanding of it:
- An Egg: As the shell, the white substance and the yolk make up an egg, so the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are together one God.
- A Human Being: As a redeemed person is made up of the body, soul and spirit, so the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are together one God.
However, the above and all other illustrations have their limitations, because God is far greater than any created thing or human imagination or intellect:
- In the case of an egg, while the shell alone or the white substance alone or the yolk alone is not a full egg, in the case of the Trinity, the Father alone is God, the Son alone is God and the Holy Spirit alone is God; and yet altogether, they are one God.
- In the case of the human person, while the body alone or the soul alone or the spirit alone cannot be called a human being, in the case of the Trinity, the Father alone is God, the Son alone is God and the Holy Spirit alone is God. This is awesome! Indeed, God is God!
- THE NATURE OF THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY
Firstly, there is absolute or perfect unity among the three Persons. For instance, Jesus expressed their unity as follows: the Holy Spirit “will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears …. 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” (John 16:13-15).
Secondly, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in divinity, power, majesty, knowledge, etc. Hence, with regard to their divinity, for instance, we profess every Sunday:
- Regarding the relationship between the Father and the Son: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God”. That is, the Father and the Son are equally divine.
- “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life… who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified.” That is, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all worthy of worship; for they are equally divine.
Thirdly, the only distinction is in the area of their Persons: the Father as a Person is distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit; in short, Three Persons are mutually distinct from each other; yet, as said already, all three Persons are one God.
- SOME PRACTICAL LESSONS
- Let us consciously make the sign of the cross, which is an expression of our faith in the Holy Trinity; and in public, let us do so confidently. Those of us who feel shy to make the sign of the cross in public should be encouraged by those footballers, who in the full view of thousands of spectators in the stadium and millions of TV viewers across the globe, make the sign of the cross.
- Since God is one and yet three Persons, a mystery beyond our full comprehension, we should be conscious of and acknowledge His awesomeness. Even the prophet Isaiah, who had no knowledge of the mystery of the Trinity, was awe-struck when, in a vision, he experienced the thrice-holy God. When he experienced the “holy, holy, holy! The Lord Almighty”, the prophet confessed his unworthiness (Isaiah 6:1-6). Fortunately, with the full revelation in Jesus (cf. Heb. 1:1-2), we can express this thrice-holiness of God as follows: Holy is the Father, Holy is the Son, and Holy is the Spirit!
- Thirdly, learning from the Holy Trinity, we should endeavour to live and work in love and unity in:
- Our Family, which is trinitarian (Father + Mother + Child);
- Our Church (Clergy + Religious + Laity).
CONCLUSION
I wish to conclude with a threefold prayer:
- May God the Father of Creation and Providence provide for all our needs; amen!
- May Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, surround us with the precious blood of eternal redemption; amen!
- May the Holy Spirit sanctify us and sustain us unto everlasting life; amen!
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis