Homily For The Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity
Sunday Readings
“Our being created in the image and likeness of God-communion calls us to understand ourselves as beings-in-relation and to live interpersonal relationships in solidarity and reciprocal love.” –Pope Francis
The living God is not solitary. The living God is not isolated. From all Eternity the Living God has lived in a relationship and, indeed, has lived as a Relationship. At the center of the universe are relationships. From Eternity the Living God has been community and family. From Eternity the Living God has been infinitely pleased as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
My Dearest Friends in Christ,
In a world robbed of communitarian life by the cankerworm of individualism, Trinity Sunday reminds us that collaboration, communion, submission, obedience, and cooperation are the ideals of a peaceful family and societal life.
The Trinity: The Central Dogma of Our Christian Faith
We have gathered to celebrate the very foundation of our Christian Faith, a core dogmatic teaching of the Church, the model of the Christian life. We are here to celebrate GOD Himself, the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in One God. The Trinity is One in One, One in each, each in One inseparably bound together, sharing the same nature, One in essence and existence. God is One. God is Love. The Three -in One dwells in complete harmony, distinct in persons and One in essence. There is order in the Triune Godhead and distinct personal attributes. This knowledge of the One-in-Three has been revealed to man through the Holy Scriptures by the Godhead Itself and has been affirmed by the Church over the centuries. The late Church Fathers described this mutual indwelling and interpenetration of the Trinity in a term they called “Pericoresis”. This may sound strange, but it’s exactly what the Gospel of John says:
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My Own. The Father who dwells in Me is doing His works.” (John 14:10)
Distinct Person, Distinct Role, Yet One Person
Each Person of the Trinity has a distinct role. The Father is the Creator, the Son is the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. What God created and redeemed, He also sanctified. There is never a time the Father is separated from the Son or the Son from the Father, or the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son.
Their Mission does not create any dichotomy or subordination in Godhead. God revealed Himself to us as a Community of Persons. Therefore we must imitate God by living in community with others. Don’t live in isolation.
We are called to Imitate The Communitarian Life of God
The communitarian nature of God reminds Christians that we must work together with others to actualize a common goal or objective. The three persons in One God each have a unique function but All are geared towards the same purpose which is the salvation of mankind.
There is Division of Labour, Submission, and no Subordination in the Trinity
There is a division of labor in the Godhead, that is to say, each Person of the Blessed Trinity has an area of specialization. Their mystery, however, involves the participation of All in the act of One. For example, in the creative work of the Father, the other Persons are fully and actively involved. When the Son is principally celebrated, the other Persons are also celebrated, because we cannot refer to any of them in isolation from the Others as they are not only One and equal in all respects but also interwoven in Being; so it should be amongst us. Each person must concentrate on his assigned duties and respect the boundaries of that assignment and the limits of the authority conferred in the exercise of that given responsibility. In an organization, for instance, a secretary cannot do the secretarial work and at the same time that of the treasurer or the president. When people exercise their responsibility beyond the boundaries of their job description it often leads to chaos in the workplace or family and society at large. You may have your interest which you bring to your assigned responsibilities but prudence demands respecting the boundaries and staying within your limits. While concentrating on their area of specialty each person must work objectively in promoting the common good.
If we are to work together and coexist peacefully, we must respect others by respecting their area of responsibility, knowing our limits, and avoiding usurpation of authority. We must work in harmony with a common objective at heart. No responsibility discharged for the good of others is insignificant. We must all cherish and be contented with what we do. From the security guard at the gate to the CEO in the office, anyone negligent of their responsibility is working against the progress of the entire institution or organization. The impact may vary in its severity but the effect will surely be felt. Let us work together in peace and harmony as does The Trinity.
There is no confusion in the Trinity, but truly an ordered community. The Son obeys the Will of the Father even when He knows that it involves giving up His own life. Without obedience, there will be anarchy in society. In the family, children should obey their parents. In the Church or at work, workers should obey the directives of their superiors. In society, we all have to obey the laws, rules, and regulations that make for our common peaceful existence. Without obedience, there cannot be order.
Love Unites The Trinitarian God-head
There is love in the Trinity. God saved the world out of His Love. The Mission of human redemption was borne out of Love for us. We are a product of God’s Love. Any act done with love and out of love enriches and transforms. Let us work for love and with love to remain united and in communion with one another, as does the Trinity. Let us eschew all forms of greed, selfishness, and unhealthy competition to outshine others. We all have the common goal of serving God (LOVE) and others and to achieve heaven. Worldly accolades and recognitions shall all pass away.
The readings of today from the first to the Gospel point to the very fact that there is God. The Gospel revealed the Trinity in the instruction to baptize using the Trinitarian formula. All Christians are baptized in the Trinity, we begin and end our prayers in Trinitarian sign.
The Trinity is the center and the core of our Christian life. It’s a mystery that cannot be grasped by the finite human intellect but only by the light of faith. May your faith be made strong in the Trinity.
Let us, therefore, imitate the Trinitarian communion in our relationships and form a more cohesive family and societal life. I keep you and your family always in my prayers.
Don’t be a loner, you can achieve more by collaborating with others. May God lead you to greater communion with Him and others.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)
