MOST HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY, YR B: HOMILY BY FR JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: LIVING IN THE ONENESS, UNITY AND LOVE OF THE TRINITY

INTRODUCTION:

Today, we celebrate the greatest mystery of our Catholic faith, the mystery of the Trinity. It is a truth and doctrine based on divine revelation rather than on science, human reasoning or sophistry. St. Thomas Aquinas began his teaching on the Trinity by asserting that; “God is Father, God is Son, and God is Holy Spirit”, and these are not three but one God. It is this same unity in diversity that unites us in faith, and in humanity. Living out in principle this one, loving and undivided unity revealed in the Trinity will perfect humanity; will perfect our world just as God is perfect in Trinity.

 

GOD WANTS US TO BE ONE/LIVE AS ONE

As we celebrate the Blessed Trinity today, we are challenged to reflect amongst us the Oneness of the Trinity. It is an effort in futility (unrealizable) to determine which of the Trinity is more powerful, more glorious, more majestic, or more eternal. They are just one in glory, equal in majesty and co-eternal. In the same vein, we should strive to eliminate amongst us every power tussle; every racial/tribal domination/supremacy; and every claim/pride of primacy/importance over others. The more we emphasize on our differences, the more we end in futility. The more we see, feel and work as one, the more powerful we become as God. Jesus had to pray; Father, may they be one, as you and I are one, seeing no discriminatory difference between us and our brothers and sisters.

 

GOD WANTS US TO BE UNITED

As we celebrate the Holy Trinity today, we recall their distinct persons and their undivided unity, no one person claims to work without the others. Jesus revealed that he only gave what he received from the Father, and the Holy Spirit also gives what he took from the Son (cf. Jn. 16: 14,15). We all are also distinct by names and personality, yet we can still live and work harmoniously together, taking, giving and receiving from each other. We can actually live and share without any greed, strife, envy, enmity, division, war or rancor. We must be united in the service of God and humanity. We must learn to accept and receive one another, unbiased and in good faith.

 

GOD WANTS US TO LOVE, BECAUSE ONLY LOVE UNITES

Peter Kreeft once said; “If God is not a Trinity, God is not love. For love requires three things: a lover, a beloved, and a relationship between them.” The Bible says God is love; the Trinity is the perfect expression of that ‘love essence’ of God. In a similar way, we must essentially be loving / love one another.  We must remain in the Trinitarian cycle of love; either you are the lover, or the beloved or in the relationship/business of love. Scripture crowns it all; “…God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in him… We have received from him this commandment; whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (cf. 1 Jn. 4: 16 & 21)

 

CONCLUSION:

Robert A. Heinlein said something that could be interpreted in both ways; he said; “Anyone who can worship a trinity and insist that his religion is a monotheism can believe anything.” This could be interpreted positively to imply that the person is a man of faith. The Trinity One God is a real basis/expression of strong faith. If you can believe it, you can believe in all that the Scripture revealed, you can believe in love, you can believe in unity, you can believe in yourself, you can believe in others, you can believe in the impossibility, you can believe in the sacraments, you can believe and share in the power and essence of the Trinitarian God.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 

5^th Sunday of Easter, Year B: Homily by Fr Justin Adiele

THEME: “ABIDE IN ME”

INTRODUCTION:

Last Sunday we talked about the role and character of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and our ability to also be like him. By his name, by his love and by his sacrifice, we too can afford to lead others in the right path that leads to life and not to destruction. Today, we explore Jesus as the True Vine and we the branches; and we must of necessity abide in Him to be fruitful and productive both physically and spiritually.

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 9: 26 – 31)

Cut off or away from Christ, you may be doing harm, thinking that you are doing good. St. Paul before his conversion thought he was rendering service to God and country by killing and arresting believers in Christ; bearing the fruit of destruction. But when he became a Christian, he started building up the body of Jesus Christ through his missionary journeys; bearing the fruit of multiplication and peace. Paul became an example those who abide in Christ Jesus; who found the grace of repentance and turn around; and who never lacked the zeal, the courage, the grace, wisdom and strength to minister/testify for Christ; bearing the fruits of increase and spread of the faith among the gentile world.

THE SECOND READING (1 JN. 3: 18 – 24)

In the second reading, St. John tells us quite clearly the perfect and simple way to abide in Jesus Christ; and that is, “to believe in him, to keep his commandments and to love one another.” Only when we are ruled by faith, by God’s just commandments, and driven by love that we can actually bear the fruits of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost; and bear fruits of charity, piety, justice and holiness.

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 15: 1 – 8)

In the gospel reading, Jesus was very specific and particular about abiding in him in order to bear more fruits; and apart from him we can do nothing. This passage teaches us never to cut or block our link/channel with Jesus every day of our lives. What then is your link/channel/connection with Jesus? Our sure link/connection with Jesus remains prayer and sacraments and his holy words which guide us in the path of life eternal.

CONCLUSION

Jesus has invited us to abide in Him. He has a large heart and space to accommodate all his disciples. Abide in his Word; abide in his love; abide in his Commandments; abide in his Eucharist; abide in his Church and you would have the enabling grace to bear the fruits of faith and good works which expresses itself in the increase/multiplication of believers around you. May Jesus also abide in us as he promised through the Eucharist and through the Holy Spirit, and continue to inspire us to bear the fruits of our salvation and the salvation of the whole world!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin