Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Mysteries are a familiar part of our lives. Many of us read mystery novels or like mysteries on television or at the movies. The inner workings of the human brain are still a big mystery to the world of science. For many, a great mystery is how to set the clock on a microwave. A mystery is a fact or an object that we do not entirely understand, and this, by no means, indicates that it doesn't exist because we cannot understand it.

Today, we stand in awe of a mystery: the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Through the Church's teaching, we are granted a glimpse into the existence of this divine mystery. We may comprehend aspects of it, but its full depth eludes us and will continue to do so in our earthly lives. Yet, it is the very essence of our faith as Christians. The Trinity's existence is not a product of our understanding but a divine revelation from God Himself. Without this revelation, the Trinity would remain a mystery beyond our grasp.

What we do know, again, from God's revelation, is that there is one God in three distinct persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This concept of the Trinity can be challenging to grasp, but it's important to understand that even though there are three distinct persons, there is still only one God. The three persons are not separate entities, but they are united in their divine essence. They act together at all times, and all three exist from eternity without beginning or end. Think of water; it can exist in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas, but it's still water.

Perhaps the best way to 'understand' the Trinity is to look at God from the perspective of the way that God has related to the human person in the course of human history. Early in history, we looked to God the Father as our Creator, the Giver of Life. As time passed and we moved farther and farther from God, we found solace in God the Son, Jesus Christ. He is not solely divine but a brother, a fellow human being with whom and to whom we can relate. It is through Jesus that our failing relationship with God was restored and redeemed, a testament to God's love and care for us.

That love and care continue in the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is always present to us and active in us as He guides us toward the kingdom of heaven.