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Holy Trinity Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Living a life inspired by the Trinitarian relationship.

Readings: Prov. 8: 22-33; Rom 5: 1-5; Jn 16: 12-15

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, we celebrate the solemnity of one of the greatest mysteries of our Christian faith, the mystery of the Holy Trinity. It is a celebration that reminds us that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. It teaches us that there are three distinct Persons in one God, sharing the same Divine Nature, co-equal and co-eternal. Each Person of the Trinity is God, yet there is still only one God; they are one in substance, yet distinct in Persons and functions, but in their functions, there is unity of purpose.

Though the word ‘Trinity’ cannot be found in the Bible, the teachings of Jesus pointed to the reality of the existence of the Blessed Trinity, especially when He instructed us, “Go into the world and baptize them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

The teaching of the Blessed Trinity is one that no amount of philosophical and scientific research can fully explain or even deny. It is indeed a mystery; it is beyond the full grasp of the human mind. In reality, the nature of our God is beyond the full grasp of the human mind. That was why God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9).

Thus, the Trinity is a mystery and can best be appreciated only with the “eyes of faith”. As a dogma, “it is an article of faith revealed by God, which the Magisterium of the Church presents as necessary to be believed…” Hence, St. Paul’s prayer in Eph. 1:18 becomes necessary for us today. It says, “May the Lord enlighten the eyes of your minds so that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

Rather than focusing on the explanation of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, today's readings emphasize the actions of the Trinity. The first reading from the Book of Proverbs reflects on Wisdom, which is personified and was the first creation of God, witnessing the creation of the universe and everything within it. This reading extols the first Person of the Trinity, God the Father, as the creator. In the second reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, St. Paul unveils the unified purpose of the Trinity in the salvation of humanity. He instructs us that we attain peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ, and that the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus traces the relationship that exists between Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit. He said, “all that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that the Holy Spirit will take what is mine (that is what belongs to the Father too) and declare it to you.”

We have seen the unity in the Trinitarian relationship and the distinctiveness of their roles. God the Father creates, God the Son redeems and reconciles, while God the Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads us in the truth.

Dear friends in Christ, there are numerous lessons to glean from today’s solemnity. First, the Blessed Trinity is one in essence yet distinct in functions. Similarly, we must strive to be united in faith and in the pursuit of a singular purpose while also acknowledging and respecting our uniqueness – that capacity in us to do good things in different ways. Our uniqueness is evident in the different modes of spirituality and gifts that exist in our church. However, the various gifts and attributes within the church should guide us towards a common goal, which is the establishment of the kingdom of God.

Secondly, the Persons of the Trinity teach us to embrace harmony and reject selfishness as we express our uniqueness in our roles in the Church, society, and family. In the life of the Blessed Trinity, God the Father did the work of creation, the Son redeemed and the Holy Spirit sanctified; they performed three distinct tasks yet did so in a harmonious manner. The actions of the Father paved the way for the actions of the Son, and the actions of the Son set the stage for the actions of the Spirit. None of them worked against the other. Therefore, as we engage in our various tasks within the Church and society, we must refrain from undermining the positive contributions of others. We should avoid manipulating, oppressing, or suppressing fellow members of our families, communities, and Church through our actions. It is essential that we learn to coexist in harmony with one another despite our individual differences and uniqueness. We must not treat others as if they are not part of the same family or community of God. A harmonious life is necessary for the growth of our Church, our families and our society.

The Trinitarian relationship also compels us to embrace community living, a lifestyle that acknowledges and honours the presence of others. If the God we worship exists within a community of Persons, characterized by love and sharing, then all of us who reflect the image of this God should reject any inclination towards isolationism – withdrawal from others and society. The Trinitarian relationship urges us to eliminate all forms of individualism, to cease living in a manner that shuts other people out.

Let us pray that we will model our lives according to the relationship that exists between the Persons of the Blessed Trinity.

Happy Feast Day. Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima