HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY YEAR C(6)

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY YEAR C

THEME: THE TRINITY AND THE MODEL OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE!

BY: Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY JUNE 12 2022

(PROVERBS 8:22-31, ROMANS 5:1-5, JOHN 16:12-15)

This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next Sunday, h

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY YEAR C

THEME: THE TRINITY AND THE MODEL OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE!

BY: Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY JUNE 12 2022

 

 

(PROVERBS 8:22-31, ROMANS 5:1-5, JOHN 16:12-15)

This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next Sunday, however, are designated as solemnities, special days that call our attention to central mysteries of our faith. Today, on the first Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. What is this ‘Holy Trinity’? It is greater than some things that people have used to explain it. Some preachers use “water” to help people understand the simplicity and variety of the Trinity, for “Water may exist in three different forms: steam, ice, and liquid.” St. Patrick used a “Shamrock” with three leaves to explain the mystery. Saint Augustine reminded Christians that: the Doctrine of Holy Trinity is a mystery of God, and no one on earth can fully understand it. We only believe in it. However, the Doctrine of Holy Trinity reveals to us one thing: “God is love.” In other words, in God, there is only love and harmony. Although the Three Divine Persons do different things, they are always together from eternity to eternity.

The idea that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and yet one God, has been the teaching of the Church since the very beginning, so we know it is a revealed doctrine, but if somebody asks you to explain it then it’s rather difficult. The church fathers described this mutual indwelling and interpenetration of the Trinity in the term ‘Perichoresis’ (two sides of the same coin). This may sound strange, but it’s exactly what the Gospel of John says:” Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works” (John 14:10).

At the centre of the universe is relationship. From all eternity the living God has been a community: “let us create man in our own image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26). From all eternity the living God has been infinitely pleased as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Each Person of the Trinity has a distinct role. The Father is the Creator, the Son is the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. Their mission does not create any dichotomy or subordinationism in the Godhead. Therefore, in a world robbed of communitarian life by the cankerworm of individualism, the Trinity Sunday reminds us that collaboration, communion, submission, obedience, and cooperation are the ideals of a peaceful family and societal life.
In our various responsibilities in life, it is salutary that each person concentrates on his or her assigned duties and be mindful of the limitations in the exercise of that given responsibility. We must work together in harmony with others for the common good. When people exercise their responsibility beyond the boundaries of their job description it often leads to confusion, misunderstanding and strife be it at work, in the family and society at large. We may have personal interests which we bring to our assigned duties, but we must not allow our personal interests override the common good or collective goal. For instance, without obedience there will be anarchy in the society. In the family, children must obey their parents, wherever we work with others, we ought to obey the directives of our superiors. In the society at large we all must obey the laws, the rules and regulations that promote for our common good and peaceful coexistence. Without obedience there cannot be order but anarchy and doom.
My dear friends, we are here to celebrate the very foundation of our Christian faith- the Trinity and the model of our Christian life. Today, we should ask ourselves, “How can we live in harmony and peace with each other in our family, in our workplace and in this faith community? How can we work together corporately as the Holy Trinity does?” So long as, we are on earth, that command is still a challenge for us.

God bless you in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.

Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara

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