Sunday, May 31

Feast of the Holy Trinity

Today, we bow before one of the great mysteries of our faith: one God in three Persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Feast of the Most Blessed Trinity invites us to contemplate a God whose very life is communion and relationship. In today’s Gospel, (Matthew 28:16-20) gives us the risen Lord’s final words: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” In that command, Jesus reveals the Trinitarian name in which we are baptized and the mission flowing from divine love.

The Holy Trinity teaches us that God is relational. The inner life of God is a perfect exchange of love. As those created in God’s image, we are called to live in loving relationships–within families, parish communities, and society. It also teaches us that mission springs from love. The Father sends the Son; the Father and Son send the Spirit; and together they send us. Evangelization is not simply duty but participation in the life of God poured out for others. Finally, baptism shapes our identity.. To be Christian is to bear the Trinitarian name. We belong to the Father, are claimed by the Son, and live by the Spirit. Our baptism calls us to holiness and to service.

In our busy world, it is often difficult to determine how to celebrate the feasts the Church gives us. This week, try to reflect on your baptismal promises, rejecting sin, profession of faith in the Trinity, and committing to live as Christ’s disciples. Practice being in relationship. Reach out to someone isolated, forgive a grievance, or make peace in a strained relationship. Find simple means of service, perhaps volunteering at a parish event or joining a parish service project, such as Mary’s Helpers.

As we celebrate this feast, let us remember that the doctrine of the Trinity is not an abstract theological puzzle but the source and model of Christian life: communion, mission, and love. May our parish be transformed by that life so others may come to know the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.