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HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: DIVINE COMMUNION AND THE CALL FOR HUMAN RELATIONALITY

(John16:12-15)

Today, being the Sunday following the Pentecost celebration, the Church celebrates a great Solemnity. The Church celebrates a great mystery. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the mystery of the Trinity "the mystery of God in himself... The source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. "

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity underscores the fact that there are Three Persons in One God, namely, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. They are coequal Persons, undivided and consubstantial.

Today, we are called to ponder on this great mystery. We are invited to appreciate the revealed realities of the Triune God. Let us praise The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit:

 

Oh eternal Trinity

Oh undivided Unity

Oh love everlasting

Oh truth surpassing total understanding

 

You are One You are Three

What a mystery in human history

What a misery of language

To get involved in this oceanic plunge

 

What a perfect harmony

A harmony expressed in relationality

Between the Trinue persons

In lovely rapport without acrimony

 

The father's love is made manifest in the Son

The Son's gift from the father is the Holy Spirit

What an amorous exchange

A gifting that calls for receptivity

 

The love of the Trinity breaths order upon creation

The expressive love, which gave birth to salvation

And so we have the Church, the emissary of the Trinitarian mission

 

In the Trinity, our meaninglessness acquires meaningfulness

Our disunity translates into unity

And our different roles channel us to our goal, peace in eternity

 

INSIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

The Trinity is not a mystery based on the fact that nothing is known about it at all. No. The scripture has revealed to us who the Trinity is, but we cannot totally comprehend it all. But the revealed is truly the truth about the Trinity.

In today's gospel, Jesus shows us the relationality and communion that exists between the Trinitarian Persons. The operation of the Blessed Trinity and their undivided bond is laid bare.  The Spirit whom the Father sends in the name of Jesus, when He comes, would not speak of His own authority. He will glorify the Son with the glory of the Father. This is an amazing oneness! From the Trinity, we are called to learn some values.

 

LESSONS FROM THE TRINITY:

UNITY

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one. Their unity is expressed in the harmony that exists between them ad intra. This is true because love is the bond between them. Theirs is the love so ancient and so New as St Augustine would say.

Can we learn from the Trinitarian unity? Can we endeavour not to put knife on the things that hold us together in order not to fall apart? Can we pay heed to the saying: united we stand, so as not to be divided and fall? Can we as a people look more for things that unite us than things that divide? Unity indeed is strength. May God bring unity among us, in our families and communities. Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity now and forever. Amen!

 

COMMUNICATION

The Trinity never jokes with "let us". Communication involves speaking and listening. The Trinity carries each other along so perfectly that differentiation becomes a difficult nut to crack. The power of communication cannot be underestimated. Lack of communication has been the bane of many marital relationships, friendships, institutions, unions and organizations.

Dialogue is indeed a value we can't joke with. It sustains relationship. May God help us in our communication with each and respect for one other.

 

READINESS FOR MISSION

Each of the Persons of the Triune God helped in revealing the goodness of one another. The Son is the missionary of the Father, The Holy Spirit is the missionary of the Father and The Son. They are ever ready to go out. Can we put a stop to locking up ourselves? Can we decide to carry out our mission on earth with Trinitarian Spirit? Can we like the Trinity move out for the good of the other? Take up the task of making the other better? It was really this idea that made the Trinity to want to express the Trinitarian love ad extra. May we be passionate to move out of ourselves to encounter people with the love of God.

 

TRINITARIAN GENEROSITY

The Trinitarian generosity is a prodigal type, a type of kenosis; self-emptying. Jesus expressed it in today's gospel: "All that the Father has is mine; therefore, He will take what is mine and declare it to you" Imagine that! He gives us, he lavishes upon us what is His.

In the Trinity we saw the Divine generosity made manifest in the intention to make man live forever. When this was terminated by sin, God continued giving and gave His only begotten Son. He came and not only revealed the face of God but also died to save and restore.

At Ascension He promises and actually fulfils by sending the Holy Spirit to be with us till the end of time so as to make us live forever. The life that was His, He has given to us.

What a gifting! Having received so much from God, what stops us from being generous with one another. We can share what we have, our time, talent and treasure. May God help us to be generous and not selfish.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

 Almighty and ever living God through this celebration help us to relate well with each other. May we remember the Trinitarian stamp we have received at baptism and fashion our life according to the Most Holy Trinity.

May the blessings of God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit come down upon us and remain with us both now and forever. Amen

Happy Solemnity of the Trinity.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh