The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is an opportunity for each of us to delve into the mystery of God, whose height, breadth, and depth is always greater than our thoughts; and to be embraced by the love of God, who is closer to us in reality than any created thing.
The First Reading of this Trinity Sunday, from the Book of Exodus, places us with Moses, on Mount Sinai, where the patriarch and prophet encounters God, and they speak to each other as trusted friends do. God gives Moses the words of the Covenant, the Law, which is the concrete presence of God, as well, being that it is the God’s Word. At this time in the story of Israel, the Oneness of God is clearly made known, that God alone is Creator, is ultimately Lord of all creation, and that there ought not be false gods, idols, before or in place of God. More profoundly, the nature of God is becoming clear: “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34.6).
In the coming of Jesus, humanity has received the incarnate person of the Son of God, that is, the Second Person of God, who is fully God, and fully human. In the Gospel of John today, we hear a portion of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who believes that Jesus is God’s Son, yet out of fear, he chooses to meet with Jesus secretly. Their conversation, though, is transparent and open, in which God’s love is revealed for “the world,” which is Jesus’ way of referring to our human condition that has gone astray and become lost to sin (Jn. 3.16). By God’s Incarnation, Jesus Christ, we are saved from sin by the love of God, to live in the light and the freedom of the children of God.
The Gospel of John will articulate the fullness of the Holy Trinity, by revealing the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of God, as our Advocate. Today, it is St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians that professes the Trinitarian formula we are so familiar with: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor.13.13). In Jesus and by his Gospel, the revelation of God as Creator (Father), Saviour (Son), and Spirit of Love (Holy Spirit), is known to us. Through the experiences of our lives, in prayer and in living the Way of Love, we become more aware of the reality of these three persons, who are always mystery, yet so intimately very close to us, body, mind, heart, and spirit. God is love.
– Fr. Gerry McDougall, SJ
