May 30, 2021

The Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Deacon Kevin O'Boyle

This weekend the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is a celebration of what is mystery in our faith. That is, while we can describe it and profess faith in it as we do every time we say the Creed, we cannot, at least this side of heaven, fully understand how it works. We describe it simply as three Persons in one God. There is the Father – the Creator, the Son, the Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. Throughout our Salvation History, we see each of these Faces of our one God.

Our readings today represent the three Persons in One God. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we see a good example of the Old Testament vision of the Creator God – The Father. The reading traces many of the occasions the Father revealed Himself throughout Old Testament History. We see the Burning Bush, references to the plagues and rescue of God’s People from Slavery, the Commandments, and other references. This Creator God was clearly present in so many ways. Perhaps this can be traced to the Father’s role as Creator.

Our Gospel focuses on the Redeemer – the Second Person of the Trinity who orders the disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This Great Commission continues in Baptisms today. It is through works of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, that we can see His reality at work in our world today. Of course, the greatest example of His presence is in the Eucharist. We can see, touch and even consume and become physically one with Christ.

The Second Reading discusses how the Holy Spirit of God leads the people – in fact leading them to address the Father as Abba. Of the three Persons, the Holy Spirit might be the most difficult to see. However, we can see his work in those who have received and use his Gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Love. These Gifts, of course result in the Fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.

So how might we understand this Solemnity? Perhaps the first thing to remember, as we should in all masses, is that we are here to worship the Triune God. We are here to remember the wonders our God has done for us throughout Salvation History. The Father Creator God made and continues to make all things. He is the Author of Life. He calls each of us into existence and knows us from the moment we are created in the womb. The Son – our Redeemer – continues to call us to God. He saved each of us through his redeeming act of suffering, death and resurrection, and continues to save us through His Church and the Sacraments – especially Eucharist and Reconciliation. And finally the Holy Spirit through Gifts and Fruits helps us to know and understand our faith and see it in action.

Recognizing these basics is important, but in our world today, forces are calling us to do more. Everything I say here must be with the understanding that we love and welcome all, but we do not necessarily agree with the life paths they have chosen, and resist efforts to say everything that is being done is OK.  God created the universe and had some obvious plans for it. The complementarity of the male and female bodies should indicate the type of relationships that were intended. It should say that a family is the cornerstone of human society and is based in a marriage between one man and one woman. A person is born as a man or woman, and no amount of drugs or surgery is going to really change that. To say something different denies the truth to a very vulnerable person. Finally, God knows and loves each of us in the womb. Each person, born or unborn is made in the image and likeness of God. Children in the womb are God’s most precious and innocent creations. Abortion, that is the willing termination of a pregnancy, is an intrinsic evil. There should be no legal right to such an action.  Our Creator God shows His intentions in what He creates.

For God the Son, our Redeemer, we should be alarmed when we hear Catholics deny the truth about the Eucharist. It is not merely a symbol – it is the real body and blood of Christ. We should be clear about that. And to those in high offices who publicly support the evil of abortion or other serious sin, they should at a minimum be reminded of what it is they are doing when they receive communion, and what Paul said about those who take communion unworthily.

Finally, as respects to the Holy Spirit, perhaps those of us who are confirmed in the faith should take another look at those Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Are we using them?

Our public square today, more so than any other time in the history of our nation is questioning our right to say and do those things our faith demands. On this weekend, when we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, perhaps we should remember what they fought for. It is now our turn to take up the battle. Perhaps, for most, not on the battlefield of war, but in the battlefield of our home front. The stakes today could not be greater. And that is something to think about on this Memorial Day God Bless,