Homilies

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
June 11, 2006

Today’s readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity remind us that God is both Trinitarian and personal. Unlike the false gods, our God is no philosophical abstraction or figment of the imagination. No, our God is personally and deeply involved in our lives, protecting and guiding us with a fatherly affection.

In the first reading, the Jews are standing on the banks of the Jordan, ready to take possession of the land promised to them so long ago. Moses takes the opportunity to encourage Israel to reflect upon the nature of God. To this end, he tells them to recall the historical events: “Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has its like ever been heard of?” Has any other god ever taken a nation unto his own and personally inflicted plagues and military defeats to anyone who stood in the way of his chosen ones? The answer, of course, is no. None of the false gods (or demonic spiritual powers) have come close. The true God has acted powerfully and personally—forcefully intervening to make a certain group of people become his own chosen nation, set apart for holiness (and, through them, to make all nations holy).

Moses, therefore, tells the people that this nation is to respond to God’s love by keeping his commandments (which are themselves gifts from God). The commandments are instruction in right living, instruction in how to use God’s gifts rightly so that we might attain true happiness.

In the Epistle for today, Saint Paul reminds us that we are children of God and not slaves. We have been adopted into a spiritual family, and the Holy Spirit is now united with us in the depths of our being. He moves us to realize who God is and thus to cry out to him: “Papa”!

And this same Holy Spirit also moves us to act with the sacrificial love akin to that of Christ. He moves us to offer our very lives for our brothers so that we too will be glorified with Christ.

In today's Gospel, Jesus has just risen from the dead and is going to meet the disciples on top of a mountain. When the disciples see the God–man arrive, they worship him. Jesus then gives them the mandate to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to teach all nations to obey his commandments. Finally, he reminds them that he will be with them always. “And remember,” Jesus says, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These readings and the Mass today enlighten our minds as to who God is—an all–powerful and all–loving triune being who is personally involved in life here on earth. But only with a great amount of prayer and courage will we accept the whole logic of this truth.

The Holy Spirit, Saint Paul tells us, is intimately united with each of us. He is communicating with us at a most fundamental level—spiritually. This is what Jesus meant when he said I will be with you always. Jesus is with each of us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

What changes would we make in our lives if ever we completely believed this? What would we do if we really acted as if the Holy Spirit is with us, prompting us at each moment of our lives? We believe this, but we don’t trust God enough to really listen and then act accordingly.

We know of people who trusted enough: John Paul II, Mother Theresa, Joan of Arc, Saint Francis, Saint Benedict. But we tell ourselves that we live in different circumstances, that we have to be more prudent. Down deep, though, we are really too proud to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. We prefer things to be done our way.

How to change? The same way an alcoholic changes. The first and most important step is to admit that we need help. We have allowed our pride to ensnare us. We are now trapped in a make–believe world where we are at the center, where we are the god. And, left to ourselves, we are unable to break out of this prison.

But we can take courage in the story of Saint Paul being delivered from prison when he was completely bound in chains and flanked by security guards. What he did was pray. He sang the psalms and hymns of praise to God. Then an angel of the Lord came down and, making short shrift of the chains and guards, set him free.

So how to change? How can we be set free? Pray. Like Saint Paul, we must pray. However we know how, we must talk with God and show him a willing spirit. God will send an angel to lead us back to him.

As the Psalmist says in today’s Mass:

Our soul waits for the Lord
he is our help and our shield.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

Homilies

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity June 11, 2006

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
June 11, 2006