THE MOST HOLY TRINITY YEAR A

 

 

 

 

By Fr Confidence Masvosva

First Reading Ex 34:4-6. 8-9

Second Reading 2 Cor 13:11-13

Gospel Jn 3:16-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a week after Pentecost, and we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Two of the shortest prayers and blessings comprise: "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you" and "May the Almighty God bless you the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

These are called trinitarian formulas. The Trinitarian God unite to perform the function for which they are being seen. Paul knew this and constantly employed this formula in concluding most of his letters (1 Cor, 16, 23; 2 Cor 13, 14; Gal 6, 18; Phil 4, 2).

 

The first question that comes to mind encountering the doctrine of the Trinity is "Three Persons in One God; how could that be? Indeed, it should provoke such a question. However, this question becomes meaningful if only one could humble oneself and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten him through the Church.

 

The Church teaches, "The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the consubstantial Trinity. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves, but each of them is God whole and entire…The divine persons are distinct from one another. God is one but not solitary. Father, Son, Holy Spirit are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are distinct from one another" (CCC 253-255).

The first reading brings obedience and humility of Moses before God. This humility won him the favour of God. God proved that he is indeed a Father because he relented his anger. When Moses prayed, the people were forgiven.

 

In the second reading, Paul encourages us to "be united and live in peace." He concluded with his characteristic benediction, "The grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." In this, we see the unity of the Christian community. By invoking the Trinitarian fellowship on them, he wishes them to emulate it and to be united in heart and soul as the Most Holy Trinity.

In the Gospel, "God sent his son so that through him the world might be saved." This sending is one way through which we share in the Trinitarian Community. The trinitarian God keep coming to us to unite us and to make us like him. God continues to seek fellowship with us because he wishes we be united as the Trinity.

Human words cannot perfectly explain the divine reality and mystery of the Trinity. No terminology or formulation is adequate to communicate it. All we need is God's enlightenment and grace for us to comprehend the trinitarian mystery and theology. The Christian faith is trinitarian, and it is very important for every Christian to participate fully in this mystery.

So, the Trinity is not an abstract theological concept but a reality to be believed and lived. The Trinity is someone to whom we pray and is also a community, the communion of three in one, the family in whose image we build up our own human community. In appreciation of the Trinity, let us give praise to the Most Holy Trinity "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.