Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity 2013
Cycle C
Proverbs 8:22-31
Thus says the wisdom of God: "The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water; before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet the earth and fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world. When the Lord established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep; when he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth; when he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command; then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race."
Second ReadingRomans 5:1-5
Brothers and sisters: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Gospel Cycle CJohn 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."
My sisters and brothers in Christ,
All of the Gospels tell us the same story. Jesus speaks so clearly to the Father and so clearly tells us that the Father and He are one. Jesus claims this relationship so strongly that He is accused of blasphemy because no one can claim such a relationship with God. Only God Himself could speak in such a way.
All of the Gospels also speak of the Spirit and of Jesus sending His Spirit, who is also the Spirit of the Father. For us, it is not a matter of trying to sort out the philosophical and theological relationships. The challenge is to love Jesus and to understand Jesus from His own words.
In order to understand Jesus, we must come to understand the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus is a Jew and speaks from that tradition. In order to understand the Spirit, we must understand how Jesus could have understood spirit. Thus the first reading today comes from the Book of Proverbs and speaks of Wisdom. Jesus Himself comes to be seen as the Wisdom of God. Yet it is clear from the letters of Saint Paul that the gift of wisdom is the gift of the Spirit. Again, we do not need to have a text book, but simply to listen and to allow the statements of the Lord to form us.
The Letter to the Romans again affirms that the Holy Spirit is given to us. Already by the time of this letter, it is clear to the early followers of Jesus that the Spirit is divine and is given to us by Jesus. It is the Spirit of the Father and it is the Spirit of Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, we are invited to live in this mystery. It is a mystery that we contemplate every day as we seek to love the Lord Jesus and to do the will of the Father and to live in the Holy Spirit.
This mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is so much a mystery to contemplate and adore, rather than to reason out. Yet in our contemplation and adoration, we come to know the Most Holy Trinity and to give thanks for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To the One and Triune God be glory forever. Amen.