The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Religion in is a complex phenomenon. It is also a multidimensional reality. In the Christian context, for example, the origin of our faith lies in divine revelation. But then, it encompasses scripture, doctrines, rites, communal rituals, devotions, practices, houses of worship, the hierarchy, canon law, and much more. Much of religious activity also needs finances, administrative staff, and volunteers to carry its mission. The working together of all these elements is complicated. When we add the concept of mystery to this already complicated network, religion is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. For example, today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Theologians have written volumes to fill an entire library about the Trinity. Yet, at the end of it all, they all come to the same conclusion – that it is a mystery.
Today, I do not want to deny the mystery or reject the complexity. Rather, I am choosing to keep it very simple. I am taking the cue from today’s scripture reading. The readings for the Feast of the Trinity are very, very simple. They describe God in very simple and comprehensible terms. It is true that ultimately God is still mystery, but I would like to maintain the simplicity of the scripture readings.
So, here are my three simple points for today:
God is Love
The first reading describes Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai. God came down in a cloud and stood with Moses. The Lord passed before him. The words that Moses heard were very simple: "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity" (Ex 34:5-6). I may not understand the concept of Trinity, but I do understand merciful, graciousness, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and fidelity. Similarly in today’s second reading, Paul says to the Corinthians, “… and the God of love and peace be with you” (2 Cor 13:12). I may not understand the Trinity, but I can understand love and peace. In the gospel reading, Jesus says, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (Jn 3:16). I may not understand the Trinity, but I can understand what is means to love someone in a deep and inexplicable way. On this feast day, the Church chooses scripture readings that communicate the richness of God mercy, kindness, fidelity, and love. And really, this is all we need to understand and know.
A couple of years back, a few First Holy Communion catechists asked me a question. They said, “What do you want our children to know?” I said, “I want them to know that God loves them.” Today, on the Feast of the Trinity, that is what the scripture readings are trying to tell us – that God is immense and immeasurable love.
God Loved
While keeping it simple, we still must reflect on the Trinity. The word ‘Trinity’ is not found in the Bible. The scriptures only refer to the concept of the Trinity. For example, John says, “God so loved the world that he sent his only Son…” In today’s second reading, Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians with this trinitarian greeting: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:13). The concept of Trinity helps us to maintain Biblical monotheism while also acknowledging God as three persons.
The deeper reality of the concept of the Trinity is that from creation until today, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work unitedly, single-mindedly, and unceasingly toward human redemption. There is not one instance when we see turmoil, confusion, or misunderstanding between them. There are no egoistic movements, power struggles, or selfish motives in them. They work in unity, harmony, peace, and order. They are three persons but one God, harmoniously working towards one goal.
At the risk of over repetition, I would like to share the story that Pope Francis shared one time. On his visit to the United States in 2015, he was at the world gathering of families. He began his address to the gathering with the story of a young boy who came to him with a question. The child asked Pope Francis, “What did God do before God created the world?” Pope Francis admitted that he was a little befuddled by the question. Taking the time to answer the question, Pope Francis replied, “Before God created the world, God loved.”
This story has remained engrained in my brain. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit form a community of perfect love, perfect harmony, perfect joy! This is the love with which God created our beautiful universe, the magnificent creatures, and the human persons. Everything and everybody are an expression of the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Love is Religion, Religion is Love
This simple reflection on the Trinity has implications for us. First, we must always remember that as Catholics, our lives are steeped in the Trinitarian life. At the beginning of our lives we are baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit, and at our death we will once again be marked by the Trinitarian sign of the cross. Everything between the beginning and the end is also dedicated to the Triune God. Every sacrament that celebrates the different phases of our lives – the Eucharist, reconciliation, Confirmation, Matrimony, illness, and our final moment – they are all sanctified by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
However, once again, to draw out the practical implication, I must return to the simplicity of today’s scripture readings. In today’s second reading, Paul says to the Corinthians: “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor 13:11). In other words, our individual, family, and communal life must be modeled on the Trinitarian life. To be egoistic, to be divisive, to be unloving, to be unforgiving, to be unreconciling, to be unaccepting of differences and diversity, to be self-centered, to seek revenge, or justify violence and war – these are contrary to the Trinitarian life. Rather, as Paul says, “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” It’s all about love, dear people. It is all about love. The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity teaches me that religion is a complex phenomenon, but it can be simple. Very simply said, love is religion and religion is love.
This Eucharist is the fruit of the Trinitarian life and love. As we celebrate the Father, who gives us the Son in sacred Bread and Wine, through the work of the Holy Spirit, may our lives be consumed by Trinitarian life and love. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph