6.06.2004 Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity - Year C
First Reading: Proverbs, 22-31 Psalm 8
Second Reading: Romans 5, 1-3 Gospel Reading: John 16, 12-15
The readings begin with Wisdom introducing herself. She emphasizes above all,
her unity with God, her being in eternity with Him, her presence in the work
of creation; a presence which does not cause jealousy, but which gives and receives
joy, in particular, thanks to the presence of mankind. This passage written
in a strongly monotheistic environment such as Judaism, prepares our minds and
hearts for the full revelation of divine life: it brings us Jesus! There is
one and only one God, but the essence of God is love. Now love cannot express
itself except in relationships. For this reason we say with the words born of
our human experience and our culture, that the one God is a unity of three persons.
This does not mean that God is formed of the union of three divinities, but
that in his unity and uniqueness there exist relations of love. Unfortunately
our words are inadequate and our ideas too poor to be able to contain and to
express the depth, fullness and beauty of God! Let us express our concepts,
therefore, with great humility, knowing that they are neither precise or complete,
in fact knowing that they may even deform and impoverish the magnificence of
the divine Light!
The passage in Proverbs describes Wisdom as an architect who foresees and directs
the works of He who builds, and delights in her work. Jesus, in a way that is
closer to our hearts, calls God by the name of Father, the Father who generates
the Son, united with Him by the same joy and the same intent, united by the
same light which is the Spirit, called by Jesus the "Spirit of Truth".
Others use different images, borrowed from nature to fix in the mind the oneness
of a God who is not closed in on Himself. A Christian convert of Islam, for
example, told me that he thought of God as the sun. One cannot touch the sun,
or look at it, but the sun can reach us with rays of light and warm us. Sun,
light and warmth are three distinct realities, but only one being. The light
is proof of the presence of the sun which warms us! Hence Jesus shows us the
Father, who reaches us through the Spirit!
Today Jesus, in conversation with the disciples expresses the need for the work
of the Holy Spirit: it is the Holy Spirit that will guide them to the full truth.
They are not able to carry the weight of the "things" of Jesus, they
are not able to carry the weight of the cross of Jesus, to suffer with him.
The coming of the Spirit of truth will make them happy to participate in their
Lord's struggles. The full truth is not only what can be contained in the mind,
but that experience of life which comes when obeying the Word. Maria reached
the full truth, when in obeying the Word, she gave birth to Jesus and served
him with love over the years: her struggles and love were a full participation
in God's plans! What Jesus wishes to convey to us in his mission of redemption,
the Holy Spirit lets us experience in the concreteness of life!
St Paul tells us this in a different way: "we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces patience, and patience experience; and experience,
hope". Through faith we have hope in the glory of God.
All this is given us for Jesus' sake: he leads us to peace with the Father
and clothes us with the Spirit! We, thus, discover to be in the midst of the
Most Holy Trinity, in his care, immersed in the warmth of the fire of his love!
Thanks to the revelation that God is Trinity we can experience His love, His
desire to pardon us, to fill us with all the joy that we are capable of, and
more in sharing in his love for all men and women who are struggling in the
dark and in fear, in doubt and in desperation.
We are lucky to know the secrets of our God! Whoever knows them is no longer
in the dark, not even as concerning the meaning of one's life. Whoever knows
the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is able to hope and to be joyful to the
end of one's days, for they know the value of suffering and the hours that pass.
Everything is illuminated by the light that comes from that sun which is our
God! But it is still necessary to announce this mystery: many people suffer
from an identity crisis, an emptiness and desperation for they do not know and
cannot therefore love the God of love!
Thank you, Lord Jesus: may you illumine us and make us carriers of your splendid
light!