Homily For the Solemnity Of the Most Holy Trinity, Year A.

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Exodus 34:4-6.8-9; Psalm: Daniel 3:52-55; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, John 3:16-18.

“THE BLESSED TRINITY: THE UNITY OF LOVE AND PEACE

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       Today, the church celebrates the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Unity of the three persons in one God. Three persons yet one God, one Holy and indivisible God. The unity of peace and love. In celebrating this solemnity, we celebrate the love that exists between these Persons, not three gods.

·       Our common catechism teaches us that God is a mystery and a supernatural being with supernatural powers. This seems to suggest that natural beings cannot easily and completely understand the supernatural being. The finite cannot completely and does not possess the ability to unravel the mystery of the infinite God. This can be said too of the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. If we completely know God or understand the ways of God, then He ceases to be God.

·       The mystery of the Blessed Trinity does not mean that we do not know anything about God. Rather, we know something, but not everything. And the greatest and most profound mystery of all is what we celebrate this Sunday, the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Through Jesus Christ, we glean the image of God because Christ is the visible image of the invincible God. He revealed to all mankind that God is One, but He is not alone, for He is a community of Three Divine Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

·       Dear friends in Christ, if God is mysterious and cannot be completely understood, does it mean that we are wasting our time trying to know God? It is not so; we can know certain things about God, but we cannot know all. The best way to know God is by knowing his attributes and qualities and trying to live them out. This is exactly what our readings are all about today.

·       The word “Trinity” is the name of God. It is a dogma of faith that there are three persons in one God. These are distinct persons yet one God. It means that God the Father is God, but he is not God the Son; God the Son is God, yet he is not God the Father, nor is God the Holy Spirit, who is God, God the Son, nor God the Father. There are three persons, but not three gods.

·       In celebrating the Holy Trinity, we celebrate the collective yet distinctive actions of the persons of the blessed Trinity, namely that God the Father creates, God the Son redeems, and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies.

·       The first reading (Exodus 34:4-6,8-9) gives us the Old Testament understanding of God as one who is tender and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in kindness and faithfulness. This shows that even though we cannot completely know God, at least we can begin to aspire to be like him by trying to imbibe these qualities and attributes in our day-to-day relationships with people.

·       The second reading (2 Corinthians 13:11-13), on the other hand, shows that unity and love are the essence of the Blessed Trinity. Therefore, as Christians, we have a lot to emulate from the Trinity, which is to be closely united and live in peace and harmony with each other. If the persons of the Blessed Trinity, despite their distinctive functions, can work in harmony as one God, then we have a lot to learn from them.

·       In the gospel (John 3:16-18), we see clearly the mission of the second person of the Blessed Trinity, which is to redeem the world. In that mission, we see the presence and approval of the other persons of the blessed Trinity. For instance, at the baptism of Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry, He, as God the Son, was visibly present, while God the Father spoke with the voice of approval and God the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove.

·       The solemnity we celebrate today should challenge us to take the business of love and unity in all spheres of life more seriously. Wherever there is oneness, then peace, love, and unity reign. Hence, if we desire peace and unity in our families, place of work, our country, and I am sure we all do, then we ought to begin to practice and foster the love, unity, and oneness that exists between the persons of the Blessed Trinity.

·       We all desire to know God and be intimate with him, but since we cannot demystify God and know him completely, we can at least begin to practice some of his attributes to be like him.

·       The challenge today is, wherever you find yourself, work for true peace and unity. Your instrument of work should be that you should be slow to anger, compassionate and tender, kind and gentle, and the like. We are created in the image and likeness of the Triune God; let us begin to practice their unique characteristics and qualities. From the qualifications, we get closer to the content.

·       As we celebrate Trinity Sunday today, let us together work for peace and unity wherever we find ourselves so that the love of God will be felt by all and that through our lifestyle others may give glory to God using the words of the Psalmist “To you glory and praise forevermore” (Daniel 3:52).

·       May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Trinity Sunday!!!


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