SUNDAY 7TH JUNE 2020
SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY
TRINITY
Exodus 34:4-6,8-9, Daniel
3:52-55, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, John 3:16-18
Today we celebrate the solemnity
of the Most Holy Trinity, the three persons in one God. Theologians in the
early Church and throughout the history of the Church, have used different
words in trying to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It is not possible
to understand fully the nature of God, because our minds are finite, but God is
infinite.
A story was told of St. Augustine
who went to the side of a river to think how possible it will be that there are
three persons in one God. As he was pondering over it, he saw a small boy dig a
small hole and was fetching water from the river into the small hole. When
Augustine told him that it was impossible to do so, he told Augustine too that
his small brain cannot comprehend what he seeks to understand. Just as in
marriage we have 1+1=1, we also have 1+1+1=1 in the Trinity.
From the very beginning, we see
in the first chapter of the bible that the father created the world in the Son,
and the Holy Spirit was present, hovering around the waters Gen 1:2. When God
was to create man, he spoke in the plural by saying, "let us create man in
own image and likeness". Jesus was sent into the word by the father, and
he was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Before he ascended to heaven, he
instructed the Apostles to preach the gospel and baptise in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He also
promised them to send the Holy Spirit from the Father. This clearly shows that
God is a communion of persons. The three persons are the same, equal, divine
and united. One cannot know the father without the Son, and St Paul tells us
that no one can call Jesus Lord without the influence of the Holy Spirit. They
work together in unity and there is no quarrel, no jealousy, no slander. This is
only possible where there is love. This is why the readings of today talk about
love, unity and harmony. Many people are not able to achieve much in life
because they are divided. We have families where parents do not agree among
themselves. Brothers and sisters quarrel, fight, envy and slander one another,
and some do not even speak to one another. Many friends have gone their
separate ways because they cannot work together. How will they prosper and
achieve anything in life? St Paul advises us all today, to try to grow perfect;
help one another, be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will
be with us.
It is also obvious that we cannot
succeed alone, we need others. Though the father is called the creator,
creation is an act of the Trinity because the three persons of the Trinity were
involved. Redemption is attributed to the Son, but it is a Trinitarian act. The
Holy Spirit continues to sanctify us, but the Father and the son are still very
much active. We are therefore called to treat one another equally and love
ourselves just like the persons of the Trinity.
As St Paul prayed for us in 2
Corinthians 13:14, May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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