Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (C)

Liturgical readings

Proverbs 8:22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

"He will guide you to all truth."

The gospel for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is taken from a discourse in the 16th chapter of John's gospel. The passage covers the same themes that were developed in chapter 14, but with different emphases. If we will read more closely the gospel for this Sunday, May 30, we will discover that the three Persons of the Trinity are mentioned several times (including references to them through pronouns) throughout the passage: Jesus (5 times), Spirit (11 times), and Father (2 times). There are many other passages in the gospels in which all three Persons of the Holy Trinity are mentioned. This is just one of them and it is in connection to the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostolic community.

Bible scholar George W. MacRae says that John's gospel repeatedly emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in leading the disciples to understand Jesus and His message. What the Spirit will tell the apostles and disciples when He descended upon them on Pentecost is nothing more, and nothing less, than what Jesus had already taught, preached and presented by the very example of His life. The apostles heard many things from Jesus but most of the time never really understood them. But when the Spirit of Truth descended upon their heads in tongues of fire, the Spirit guided the apostolic community to understand the Truth of Jesus and His love for the Father - a love that is personified in the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself.

As we were educated in Catholic schools or by zealous catechists, we are taught all the truths of our faith: beginning from the creation of the world in Genesis, to all the stories in the Old Testament, to the story of Jesus and the missionary experiences of St. Paul in the New Testament, to Pentecost and the birth of the Church, the institution of the sacraments, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Though we know all these truths, our understanding of them continues to reach its fullness and depths the more we mature in the faith. As we meditate and contemplate on the life of the Trinity through prayer and the sacraments, we will be given the gift to understand more deeply, and fully how they are vital to our Christian journey in this world.

Points for reflection: Do I believe in the Holy Trinity as a community of Persons who will only what is good for all of us? Do I seek to understand more deeply and fully, how the Holy Trinity indwells in our being, and only desires our total commitment to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves? How can I make my prayer and spiritual life more Trinitarian?