Sunday, May 27, 2018
TRINITY SUNDAY
Deuteronomy 4:32-34,39-40// Psalm 32:4-6,9,18-20,22// Romans 8;14-17/ Matthew 28;16-20
ONE GOD, THREE PERSONS
Beloved, there are some technicalities and deep theological terms when it comes to the understanding of the word Trinity, e.g. Trinitarian appropriation, Trinitarian perichoresis, homoousios, hypostasis, Filioque, etc. (Just by the way).
It is a mystery; that is, something beyond human understanding, which Jesus came to reveal to us. No human intellectual reasoning capacity can fully explain Trinity more appropriately. Some of our analogies and examples have their limitations. We need faith to understand. St. Augustine tried to find the meaning or explanation, but failed (St.Augustine's encounter with the little child/Angel at the sea). Trinity means: one God in three divine persons. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (equal in divinity, united in love).They are not three GODS (1+1+1=1). Is this Mathematically correct? The word Trinity as it stands is not categorically/explicitly found in the Bible as such (Trinity). But we have instances in the Bible where, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are mentioned.
At Jesus' Baptism, the Son was being baptised, the Holy Spirit descended, and the Father spoke. (Mark 1:11 /Matthew 3:16 / Luke 3:21-22)
Jesus commanded the Apostles to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 28:19). St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians is another biblical quotation (2 Corinthians 13:13). Outside biblical references, the Sign of the Cross we make, the Glory be to the Father that we say, the Creed we profess, the greetings that the celebrant greets us at the beginning of Mass are instances where we hear Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Most Holy Trinity teaches us perfect unity, good communication, obedience, sharing, division of labour, duty consciousness, etc.
Our today's first reading draws our attention to the uniqueness of the power and wonders of God the Father, unlike other man-made gods. We are told what God did for our forefathers. We can also share our experiences what God has done for us and for our friends and relatives as compared to what other smaller gods have done or are doing in peoples' lives.
St. Paul reminds us that because we have been baptised/confirmed in the Holy Spirit, we are sons and daughters of God, and it makes us to cry, "Abba Father!" We should therefore bear united witness as children of God. We are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, and as such, we should be ready to share in Christ's suffering and glory. But some of us want only to share in Christ's glory, not the suffering. We want to be with people when they are enjoying, but not when they are suffering. Some of us would even wish that a friend or relative should die and we take his or her property. This is uncharacteristic of the children of God. It is unchristian.
Friends, Jesus assures us that he is with us always; to the end of time. He sends us out to make more disciples; and baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe God's commandments. Am I a baptised person myself? Did I help someone to be baptised? Am I living God's commandments myself? Am I teaching others to obey God' commandments? Do I believe and accept the love of God? Do I believe in Jesus Christ? Do I believe in the Holy Spirit? Do I do or say things in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Do I want to be saved? Do I want everlasting life? Then, I should imitate the Most Holy Trinity: perfect love, unity, obedience, communication, understanding, [humility], etc.
Let us pray for unity. We pray for the grace to share in Christ's and others' suffering and glory. We pray for the grace to obey God's commandments and help others to also obey God' commandments.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all ( 2 Corinthians 13:13). BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa. (0206854323/0240308878)