THEME: INCORPORATED INTO THE DIVINE FAMILY

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost. It is a Sunday, set aside by the church, to honour the Holy Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is one of the few feasts that are celebrated as a doctrine instead of an event. The concept of the trinity can never be completely understood or rationalized; it is not a product of mathematical calculation nor logical reasoning. The mystery of the Blessed Trinity is a great mystery in the Church. It is a celebration of the family of God; 3 persons in One God. We celebrate God the Father as the creator, God the Son as the Redeemer and God the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier.

The mystery, like other mysteries, is far beyond human comprehension. The human mind is finite and unable to penetrate the infinite nature of God. The doctrine is understood by faith, which comes from the Holy Spirit. It is appropriate, therefore, that this mystery be celebrated the first Sunday after Pentecost, when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit first occurred. The only way to describe the Trinity is with the use of metaphors. My reflection is not to explain the mystery, rather on how we can be part of this great mystery.

The consciousness of Blessed Trinity permeates virtually everything we do as Christians. We invoke the Blessed Trinity at the beginning of every prayer. When we share the grace, it is the Blessed Trinity we invoke. The credo can be summarized as the profession of faith in the Blessed Trinity. Our doxology (glory be to the Father…) goes to the Blessed Trinity. It is also the formula for blessing ourselves at the end of every liturgical assembly. Above all, through baptism, one is incorporated into the life of the Blessed Trinity. Participating in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity is a gratuitous gift to us from Jesus, the second person of the Blessed Trinity. He commanded his disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

A baptized Christian is incorporated into the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, the divine family. He or she becomes a participant in the divine life. That is the great privilege we enjoy as baptized Christians, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ. A baptized Christian bears the mark of the Blessed Trinity. This great privilege invites Christians to a life of holiness. It invites Christians to show love, which is the binding force of the Trinity. It invites Christians to accept the oneness of all people.

The Father fulfilled the role of creation. The Son fulfilled the role of redemption. The Holy Spirit fulfilled the role of sanctification. As a participant, you too have a function. The celebration of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity today invites us to fulfill our own role; and allow the unity, love and oneness that exist among the Three in one God to exist among us. Let us not abuse the privilege, but live in a way that shows that we are incorporated into the Divine family (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Trinity Sunday!