The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday: June 15, 2025
Readings: Proverbs 8:22–31; Psalms 8:4–9; Romans 5:1–5; John 16:12–15
1. The Trinity in Us: Peace, Hope, and Love
St. Augustine, writing in his book "De Trinitate," tells us that the "Father is the one who begets, the Son is the one who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit is the bond of love between them.” There is a deep inner working within the Holy Trinity. It is the bond of love that unites them. One God but three persons has always intrigued the generations of Christians. With our human intelligence, we might find it a bit strange, still, we see the logic of God is perfect. The scripture supports this claim.
In Romans 5:1–5, St Paul reminds us that because we are justified by faith, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But this peace is not a passive state; it is the fruit of entering the divine life. God’s love “has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to make right connections with God. It is the Holy Spirit that enables us to dialogue with God. We are not just recipients of God’s grace—we are drawn into the inner life of God.
2. The Spirit guides us
St. Athanasius, one of the early Church Fathers, writes in his book "On the Incarnation", “God became man so that man might become god.” It is neither a mistaken phrase nor a heresy. Instead, it is the heart of Christian hope. We are called to share in the divine life, to become, by grace, what God is by nature. The Trinity is not a puzzle to decode but a divine embrace to enter.
In St John's Gospel 16:12-15, Jesus prepares his disciples for what is to come. He knows they cannot yet bear the full weight of the truth, so he promises the Spirit, who “will guide you into all the truth.” The Spirit does not speak alone but draws from what belongs to Christ, and all that belongs to Christ is from the Father. In this beautiful harmony, we glimpse the eternal giving, receiving, and glorifying that marks the Trinity.
3. The Trinity is Life
St. Basil the Great, writing in his book "On the Holy Spirit," says, “the Spirit is like the finger of God, by which the heart of man is touched.” How can God touch us? It is through the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who draws us closer to God. Hence, we must listen to the Spirit who whispers the truth of God’s love into our hearts. The Spirit makes us participants in the eternal conversation between the Father and the Son. As St. Gregory of Nazianzus said: “No sooner do I conceive of the One than I am illumined by the splendour of the Three; no sooner do I distinguish them than I am carried back to the One.”
The Trinity is not a doctrine frozen in a catechism; it is the life of the Christian. The Trinity shows us that love is always about relationships. Trinity is a relationship of love, unity and equality. When we love with selfless tenderness, when we forgive, when we seek peace, when we hope against hope—it is Trinitarian life in action. To believe in the Trinity is to believe that God is love, and that love is not static. It flows. It creates. It saves. It indwells. It is the Trinity who is our God forever and ever. Amen
A few questions for self-reflection
- Do I allow the Holy Spirit to guide my actions, thoughts, and relationships each day?
- How do I contribute to building unity and harmony in my family, community, or workplace?
- Am I attentive to God’s presence in the ordinary moments of my life, recognizing the Trinity at work around me?
Prayer
O Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we praise and adore you, the eternal mystery of love and unity. As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, draw us into the heart of your divine communion. Let the love that flows between you be poured into our hearts, filling us with faith, inspiring us with hope, and moving us to love generously and selflessly. May our lives reflect the harmony of your eternal dance, and may we, through your grace, become instruments of peace and unity in the world. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen
Thank you for the profound reflections yet mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI always found it difficult to understand the mystery of Trinity. When I was doing the spirituality course ,I used to question a lot on this regard. Every time something that strikes me is faith. As you tried to simplify the love of the trinity in your reflections it invites for that deep faith which I lack sometimes.
I liked the prayer at the end very much and the Words of Augustine on Trinity which I still find it difficult to understand
Dear Fr. Olvin,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift your reflection on the Trinity is! You've made this profound mystery so alive and real. I love how you showed us that the Trinity isn't just something to think about, but something to live - that when we love, forgive, and bring peace, we're actually participating in God's own life.
Your words remind me that God's love isn't distant but flows right into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for helping us see that we're not just watching God's love from afar - we're invited right into it.
This reflection will stay with me and change how I pray and live.
With grateful hearts,
Joilin
Thank you father for the profound reflection on the Trinity which is always difficult to grasp. Your simple explanation helped to reflect on deeply on the mystery
ReplyDeleteDear Fr. Olvin Veigas SJ,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the inspiring reflection. I was deeply touched by a few lines from it, and I would like to share them below:
• It’s the Holy Spirit who enables us to have a dialogue with the Lord.
• Love is always related to the relationship.
Thank you and God bless you father