The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Exod 34:4b-6, 8-9; Dan 3:52-55; 2 Cor 13:11-13 and John 3:16-18
Readings: Exod 34:4b-6, 8-9; Dan 3:52-55; 2 Cor 13:11-13 and John 3:16-18
A God that Reaches out to us in Love
After the Pentecost three Solemnities are celebrated in quick successions: the Holy Trinity, the Body of Christ and the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, three persons in one God which we celebrate today, is the central mystery of our Christian faith. This happens also on the day we are celebrating our father’s day.
However, explaining this mystery could be very challenging to preachers and to all of us Christians. Sometimes this apparent difficulties can lead many preachers to digress into endless stories or to simply go back to the notes they took in their theology class on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
But keeping to the boundaries of the Scriptures readings of today, what we celebrate today is the mystery of love, the mystery of hope, unity, peace, the power of forgiveness and revelation of God’s Love and Mercy.
In the first reading, the Triune God, with Moses’ intercession reaches out in love to the sinful Israelite, who had committed idolatry. He is slow to anger, rich in kindness and fidelity (Exod 34:4b-6, 8-9). The goal of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is always to love and to unit us instead of scattering – the communion, the oneness which Christ has always taught us in his deep relationship with the Father.
In John chapter 1 verse 1 we read,” in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” And in verse 14 we are told the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
This is a God out of pure love coming down in the person of Christ to dwell with us. In the completion of his ministry which Christ carried out in total communion with the Father, he sent us the Holy Spirit that was with him in the beginning of his ministry “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Luke 4), a spirit of peace and love.
This is the same peace of the Triune God that Paul suggests in the Second reading. He says, “Mend your way, encourage one another, agree with one another, and live in peace. This is what we are celebrating today- how more than one person can live in peace. The Triune God who reaches out to us in peace and and oneness.
It is not even suggested anywhere that God the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit went to court, quarrel or dislike each other. Rather “God so loved the world the he gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life….and be saved.” (John 3:3-18).
There are many blessings that God has blessed our fathers with. There are also many challenges facing them including all of us. Some could be the challenges of management of anger, peace, love and family unity. Let us pray at this Mass that as three persons are united in One God we may always as a church and families strive for oneness, unity, with the grace of Christ, the love of God and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. .
However, explaining this mystery could be very challenging to preachers and to all of us Christians. Sometimes this apparent difficulties can lead many preachers to digress into endless stories or to simply go back to the notes they took in their theology class on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
But keeping to the boundaries of the Scriptures readings of today, what we celebrate today is the mystery of love, the mystery of hope, unity, peace, the power of forgiveness and revelation of God’s Love and Mercy.
In the first reading, the Triune God, with Moses’ intercession reaches out in love to the sinful Israelite, who had committed idolatry. He is slow to anger, rich in kindness and fidelity (Exod 34:4b-6, 8-9). The goal of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is always to love and to unit us instead of scattering – the communion, the oneness which Christ has always taught us in his deep relationship with the Father.
In John chapter 1 verse 1 we read,” in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” And in verse 14 we are told the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
This is a God out of pure love coming down in the person of Christ to dwell with us. In the completion of his ministry which Christ carried out in total communion with the Father, he sent us the Holy Spirit that was with him in the beginning of his ministry “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Luke 4), a spirit of peace and love.
This is the same peace of the Triune God that Paul suggests in the Second reading. He says, “Mend your way, encourage one another, agree with one another, and live in peace. This is what we are celebrating today- how more than one person can live in peace. The Triune God who reaches out to us in peace and and oneness.
It is not even suggested anywhere that God the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit went to court, quarrel or dislike each other. Rather “God so loved the world the he gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life….and be saved.” (John 3:3-18).
There are many blessings that God has blessed our fathers with. There are also many challenges facing them including all of us. Some could be the challenges of management of anger, peace, love and family unity. Let us pray at this Mass that as three persons are united in One God we may always as a church and families strive for oneness, unity, with the grace of Christ, the love of God and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. .
