Homily Reflection - Solemnity of the Holy Trinity - Something So Great

Something So Great Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

(This reflection was inspired by some great blogs by priest and protestant ministers)

The late Monsignor Edmund Moore began his homilies highlighting different parts of the readings. For Trinity Sunday, I’ll do the same. From the first, second, and Gospel readings we hear:

“Ever since God created man upon the earth…,”   “…the Spirit itself bears witness.”   “Behold, I am with you always until the end of the earth.”

I chose these thoughts because God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has always been and always will be.

Let us pray “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” 

This is the prayer of the Holy Trinity and probably the first prayer we ever learned and it stands for something so great.

This  prayer is to the Holy Trinity.

Almost every one of us made the sign of the cross or thought about it. It’s an automatic thing done without thinking - the prayer and sign of the cross. Maybe we pray without thinking about all its meaning.

First always make the sign of the cross reverently and respectfully and pray the prayer properly. It’s not “Father, Son, Holy Spirit.” It’s “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

This prayer is sacramental.

It helps us in our worship. It begins Mass and ends Mass. Our salvation is represented by the sign of the cross of Christ. Then with the prayer, we open our hearts to the Holy Trinity, our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This prayer is about communion.

In the bible, the word “name” means “the presence” or “the heart” of a person. So praying this prayer, we pray for the presence and a communion with God.

In this prayer, the Trinity is a communion.

The Triune God is a communion of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We were created in their image. Not just Christians but all humanity bears the image of God, an image of communion. This is from where we come and this is where we seek to return.

In this prayer, the Trinity is community.

True communion forms community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share mutually in the Holy Trinity as a community of equals being one God. The church must also be community that expresses to all equality, mutuality, and sharing.

In this prayer, the Trinity is inclusive.

The church must always strive to emulate the inclusiveness of the Trinity. In unconditional love everyone is welcomed: male or female, rich or poor, saint or sinner, and every ethnicity. The first thing someone visiting our community should see is a well-worn welcome mat not a grand doorway or ornate wall.

In this prayer, the Trinity is our faith.

It separates us from our Jewish ancestors. It’s a mystery that’s hard to understand; but one we accept meekly because it is given to us by Jesus Christ himself. "Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We are to bring the Gospel and community of the whole world.

We are the Church made in the image of God.

Celebrating the Holy Trinity with a short prayer and gesture is too significant to disregard. It celebrates the communion of the Trinity, a communion that is God. It celebrates our communion with God and communion of community of God.

The Gospel shows us the Trinity. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit has always been in the world and always will be. 

I’m ending by highlighting three different thoughts to celebrate our communion with the Holy Trinity. They are from the Psalm, first, and second reading:

“Blessed the people the Lord has chosen…,”   “…to be children of God.”   “Did anything so great ever happen before?”

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.