The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
                                                            May 26, 2024 Cycle B
                                                                                       by Rev. Jose Maria Cortes, F.S.C.B.
                                                                                                                                                                      Pastor of the Church of St. Peter
                                                                                                                                                                           North St. Paul, Minnesota
Index
Sunday Reading Meditations

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity comes after all the other liturgical feasts.  Following the celebrations of the mysteries in the life of Our Savior, we celebrate God himself. The mystery of the Trinity is the end of all things.  Jesus' mission was to show us who God is.  He came to reveal the inner life of God, to introduce us into the mystery of God.

In today's Gospel, Jesus says: "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28: 19).  Jesus' mission continues in the mission of the Church.  The Church exists to introduce everyone into the mystery of the Trinity.  Through Baptism, we immerse ourselves in God.

Since the day of our baptism, we have become children of God.  With Christ, we have become heirs of the Father: "We are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:16-17).

The mystery of God is our origin and our destiny.  We came from him and to him we shall return.  We live in him.  The most important thing in life is to know the Trinity.

The mystery of God is like an ocean.  People usually remain on the surface of the water.  In order to know who God really is, we need to dive into the infinite waters.  The depths of the mystery of God are inexhaustible.

To know God as he is, we need to go beyond our preconceived ideas.  In the first reading, Moses says: "The Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below and there is no other" (Deut 4:35).  Jesus revealed God as the mystery of the communion of three persons.

In order to know a person, we do not read a book about him.  In order to really know a person, we have to enter into a relationship.  We could read someone's biography or a resume but a person is infinitely more than what is written.  To know someone, we need to listen.  We need to be attentive to words and gestures.  We can say that we know a person when we have shared joys and sorrows.  We really know each other when we participate in the suffering of the other.  In the second reading, Saint Paul says: "... if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him" (Gal 8:17).  We can know someone but what that person really is always remains a mystery.

In the knowledge of God, we can find the same dynamic that is present in our knowledge of human persons.  In order to know the Trinity, we need to silence ourselves and listen to God, who speaks to us through his Word.  We need an attitude of profound adoration, to let God be God.  Otherwise, we can only have a very superficial understanding of who God is. Unfortunately, not too many people enter deeply into their relationship with God.  Saint John of the Cross said: "(...) it ought to be pointed out why so few reach this high state of perfection union with God.  I should be known that the reason is not that God wishes only a few of these spirits to be so elevated; he would rather want all to be perfect, but he finds few vessels that will endure so lofty and sublime a work" (The Living Flame of Love, II 27).

We tend to remain at a certain level, not proceeding to wherever God wants to lead us.  The tremendous Mystery of God is frightening for many.  However, it should no be.  Saint Paul says: "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall beck into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, 'Abba, Father!'"  (Rom 8:15).

The knowledge of God satisfies our souls.  The mystery of God is the meaning of our existence.  In the knowledge of God, we find the fulfillment of our lives.  In the knowledge of the Trinity, we find a delight that nothing and no one else can give us.

May the celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity rekindle our desire to know God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!  Amen.