Too often we worship God not as Christians but as pious Jews or Muslims. We insist on talking to God – just God, uniquely God – without realizing that this God, though totally one, is also Trinity: i.e. three in one. This mystery is just that, a mystery, and a particularly difficult one at that and we could be tempted to wish that the reality were simpler, or at least that God had not revealed it.
But such a desire would be like wishing that a marvellous piece of classical music were only the four simple chords of pop music, or that an extraordinary work of art didn’t have such depth. The beauty of the divine mystery is that it is an invitation to explore it even more, to dive ever deeper into what is like an infinite ocean of wonders to be discovered.
The readings for today's feast, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, begin with the moment when God gave a glimpse of his mystery, revealing himself to Moses on Mount Sinai. The full revelation of his glory would have been too much for Moses - in fact, we can only see it in heaven through a special elevation of our nature by grace - so God places him in the cleft of the rock, saying: "I will cover you with my hand until I have passed. Then, when I remove my hand, you will be able to see my back, but you will not see my face.". God then goes on to reveal Himself as the "Lord, Lord, compassionate and merciful God, slow to anger and rich in mercy and loyalty.". In this way, God begins to share his intimacy with Moses and, through him, with humanity.
This is the raison d'être of the revelation of the Trinity. God reveals his inner life to us so that we can share it forever in heaven. We understand this very well: the more you love someone, the more willing you are to open your intimacy to them. And so, wanting to reveal to us the fullness of his love for us in Christ Jesus, and having gradually prepared us throughout history to receive this love, it is through Jesus that God teaches us about the Trinity. As Our Lord says to Nicodemus in today's Gospel: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.". This act of revelation is for salvation, as Jesus teaches, but even more: it is an invitation to relationship. As we see in the saints, we are to have a relationship of love and trust with each person of the Trinity, loving the Father through Jesus his Son, with the Holy Spirit working in our soul. What St. Paul says to the Corinthians in today's second reading is like a summary of this truth: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God [i.e., the Father] and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all always.".
Homily on the readings of the Holy Trinity (A)
The priest Luis Herrera Campo offers its nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
