Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. In the Office of Readings we find the word of St Athanasius:
‘In the Church one God is preached, who is “above all things and through all things and in all things”.
Yes, certainly, “above all things” as the Father, the first principle and origin; and truly “through all things”,
that is through the Word, and finally “in all things” in the Holy Spirit.
The mystery of the Trinity is just that: a mystery. It is not a mystery in the Miss Marple sense, that is, something to figure out. But instead it is a truth that is beyond us. Luckily, we have Scripture to lead us on, and the traditions and writings of the Church. So, our work as labourers in the field of God is easier than that of the first disciples. But still, to live a faith that we do not fully understand is not easy. It takes us time to realise that there are aspects of our faith that we cannot comprehend. In fact, the Carmelite spiritual writer Ruth Burrows has it that, if we ever sense that we know where we are going on our spiritual journey, we are probably going the wrong way.
We may not know the answers. We may doubt, because human capacity does not comprehend the godhead. But if we follow Jesus’s command then we shall be close to the truth. That command was to love.
From Lent through to the resurrection and the ascension, we have heard about God creating the earth, and of him sending his Son, Jesus, to spread the Good News and to bestow upon his followers the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is our journey, and we rejoice for the beauty that we are called to.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to John (3:16-18)
Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus said to Nicodemus,
‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him
the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe
is condemned already because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.