The Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity

05-26-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

In Christian baptism, the formulae words are: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a threepart question when asked to confess the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with I do. The faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity (CCC. 232). Today, we celebrate the central mystery of our FAITH, God’s mystery, the Holy Trinity.

The Apostolic Letter of Benedict XVI: Porta Fedei (Door of Faith) invites us into a deeper relationship with God, telling us that faith opens to us “a journey of a lifetime. ”To profess the Blessed Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to believe in one God who is love: the Father, who in the fullness of time sends His Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who in the mystery of His death and Resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads the Church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return. (PortaFedei, 1)

In the Homily of St. Patrick, in illustrating the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, he took a three leaved clover in his hand and pointed out how the clover is one yet in three equal leaves. All three leaves are distinct yet form one cloverleaf. This example by no means demonstrates but merely illustrates the mystery of the One God in Three Divine Persons.

In the time of Abraham and his descendants, God revealed Himself as the one true God, creator of heaven and earth. At this time and throughout the Old Testament, the concept of a Triune God was not in focus, although implicitly implied. The development of the idea of the Trinity and the existence of the (3) three divine persons came much later in the history of salvation with the coming of the Son, Jesus Christ. But even before the coming of the Son the Word made flesh the Wisdom of God spoke of being begotten by God from before the beginning, in creation. And in the fullness of time, God revealed Himself to us as One God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit an infinite mystery revealed to us whose understanding is limited.

In the Gospel, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out into the world and baptized them in the name of the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He commanded them to be united - with one another just as He, the Son, Father, and the Holy Spirit are in full communion in Divine Love. In Jn. 16:12-13, Jesus says, I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all truth. For this reason, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity comes after Pentecost. Only after receiving the gift of the Spirit; when believers would understand the mystery of the Trinity. Through the Holy Spirit, the love of God pours out into our hearts.

With the Holy Trinity, we have the perfect example of the UNITY of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One of the most beautiful morning hymns sung towards the end of the Easter season echoes this UNITY: Oh, most Holy Trinity, undivided unity! Holy God, Mighty God, God Immortal, be adored! Sacred Scriptures present how the Trinity works: The FATHER initiates, the SON complies, and the Holy Spirit executes. But in the work of salvation, The FATHER plans, the SON procures/obtains, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our livers.

Lord, may we become agents of the Most Blessed Trinity in bringing PEACE and UNITY in our communities.