Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8:4-9; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15
The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles brings the work of the Trinity to its fullness. God the Father is the Creator. God the Son is the Savior. God the Holy Spirit is the Renewer and the Sanctifier.
When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he authorized his apostles to baptize in the name of the Trinity. He said to them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). With these words, Jesus authorizes us, his followers, not only to baptize but to do everything in the name of the Trinity. That is why all our prayers begin and end in the name of the Trinity.
With the Sign of the Cross, we invoke the Trinity. We are encouraged to pray it and sign ourselves reverently with understanding, conviction, and faith because of its deep and profound meaning and power. With the Sign of the Cross, we invoke the Love of God, the Grace of Jesus Christ, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Today’s readings highlight to us the interconnectedness of the Trinity:
First Reading: “When the Lord established the heavens, I was there … Then I was beside him as craftsman, and I was his delight day by day…” (Proverbs 8:27). It is even clearer in John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” It is also understood that the “mighty wind sweeping over the waters” before creation was the presence of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2).
Second reading: “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ … The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:1 & 5).
Gospel: “Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that he [the Holy Spirit] will take from what is mine and declare it to you” (John 15:16).
The Trinity is one of the most important mysteries in Christianity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, but one nature, one God, equal, undivided, and no separation. We are not invited to fully understand the dogma since it is a mystery. We are, rather, invited to believe, participate, and share in the way of the Trinity. St Paul writes, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
What is the way of the Trinity?
First, the way of the Trinity is unity: The Trinity is one nature, undivided, no separation. We are invited to witness unity wherever we find ourselves. It is often said, “Where there is unity, there is strength, and there is victory.” “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Second, the way of the Trinity is harmony: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit related in harmony from creation to the descent of the Holy Spirit. We are invited to work harmoniously with one another. Disagreements and bitterness hinder progress.
Third, the way of the Trinity is equality: The three persons of the Trinity are equal. None is superior to the other. We are invited to provide equal treatment and equal opportunity for everyone. All forms of inequality are against the way of the Trinity.
Fourth, the way of the Trinity is relational love and intersharing: Jesus speaks of this relationship in today’s gospel, “Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that he [the Holy Spirit] will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” We can see that the Trinity is bonded in love. Unity, harmony, and equality can only be possible where there is love. We pray for genuine relational love and intersharing in our associations and relationships.
Fifth, the way of the Trinity is holy: As we celebrate and worship the Most Holy Trinity, may the rays of their holy light shine on us, dispel forces of sin and darkness, and bring us to conversion. May the rays of their holy light bring us physical and spiritual healing. May the rays of their holy light guide us to the path of truth and righteousness. May the rays of their holy light guard and protect us from all dangers. Amen.
St. Paul writes how God made the human body to function in a trinitarian way, “God has so constructed the body … so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy” (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). We are invited to be relational and intersharing as parts of the body are. Each person’s gifts, talents, and resources are for the benefit of all. Whatever each person does or does not do affects others and the environment.
It is in the same trinitarian interconnectedness, interrelationship, and intersharing that God made the earth, which is why the earth is in the shape of a globe. God blessed every part of the earth with resources for the benefit of other parts. But it is human beings’ bad will and greed that bring disconnection, destruction, suffering, and death.
The crises occurring everywhere are because of human beings’ bad will and greed and the rejection of the way of the Trinity. Any family, parish, community, association, organization, or country that walks in the way of the Trinity will prosper. The way of the Trinity is the best and only way to go!
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