SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY TRINITY

 REFLECTION FOR THE 9TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME (30/05/2021)

Deut. 4:32-34,39-40; Ps 33:4-5,6&9,18-19,20&22(R.12b); Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

The solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity which is celebrated today is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. It has to do with the inner mystery of divine nature and as such, not accessible to human reason but to faith alone. Hence it is the most fundamental teaching in the hierarchy of the truths of faith. Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls to mind that “the Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God. An attempt to rational scrutiny will prove an exercise in futility. Thus, the church, in trying to define the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, does not explain the mystery but tries to dispel all forms of contradiction.

From the account of creation, there is evidence of the Trinitarian character. This creation exercise features the Father, the Word (through whom all things were made Jn.1:3) and the Holy Spirit (Gen.1:1-3). During the baptism of Christ, the three persons were also present. In the earthly life of Christ, he explicitly made it known that he was sent by his father, who is eternally Father in relation to his only Son and who is eternally Son in relation to his Father (cf. Mk 9:37; 14:36; Matt. 11:25-26; Lk 22:42). Christ Himself confirms this when he says “no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him” (Matt. 11: 27). The apostles of Jesus Christ profess that Jesus Christ is the Word. It is, therefore, written “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (cf. John 1:1). This points to unity between the Father and the Son. At the end of Jesus’ mission on earth, he announces the sending of the Holy Spirit (the Advocate), who was at work during the creation (cf. Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Isa. 32:15) and spoken of by the prophets (cf. Isa. 11:1-5; Ezek. 36:27).

The sending of the Person of the Holy Spirit reveals the fullness of the mystery of the Holy Trinity. All the three figures and voices in the history of revelation are distinct and they relate intimately to one another, working along with one another and are all taken together, and referred to as ‘the Triune God’.

This does not in any way give room for polytheism (the belief in many gods) because there is only one true God (cf. Ex. 20:1; Deut. 6:4-5; Isa. 44:6-8). 

There are, however, Biblical hints throughout the Old Testament that within this One and Only True God, there exists plurality (cf. Gen. 1:26; 11:6-7; 3:22). Christ Himself revealed this doctrine of the Holy Trinity when he commissioned his disciples; “go, then, to all nations and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...” (Matthew 28:18), as contained in the Gospel of today. Thus, The Father is God, Jesus Christ the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. The Trinitarian formula (In the name of the Father....) shows clearly the unity and love which exist in the Triune God. 

Thence, the Church presents us with the unity and love in the Trinity as a paradigm of the Christian life which will eschew strife, dehumanization, racial differences and ethnicity, tribal/cultural affiliations especially in our families, our work places, our Churches, town unions, market places and our country Nigeria. The love we profess as Christians must be fruitful, tangible and altruistic. This communion is possible through the help of the Most Holy Trinity.

HAPPY HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY.

REMAIN IN UNION WITH GOD. It

 Reflection by:

Rev Christopher Ekechukwu,SMMM