John 16:12-15 Holy Trinity, Undivided Unity

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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Today is the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a mystery of faith; that is, something that had to be revealed to us directly by God himself.  God is Three Persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  And although this unity of divinity is a mystery, it doesn’t mean it is something that we cannot relate to or understand.  Of course we can.  After all, we were created in God’s image and likeness.  

We are more one by being three.  Now if we were created in God’s image and likeness, then in some way our lives are an expression of His love in our life.  As we begin to penetrate into God’s very being, let’s not forget another revelation given to us by God:  that He is love.

God is love and He is Three Persons.  Hence God (Love) is not selfish.  He is very giving.   His love is always directed towards another Person.  God’s love is a very giving love, a forgiving love, a sharing of himself to others.   This is what keeps Him together!  This is what keeps us together.  Like God, we are more ourselves when we give our love to others.

No wonder why we seek to love:  we want to be united.  No wonder why one of the greatest moments in our lives is to walk down an aisle and profess our love to another.  As a priest, I am still amazed at how some people, who have lived together for years, suddenly decide they want to get married.  Why is that?  It’s simple.  They seek to get closer.  They want to be more intimate.  They want commitment.  They want to be like God:  a Holy Trinity and undivided unity.

Love and pain.  Human love opens the door to two people becoming one.  And this oneness is much more than just something that is spiritual, psychological and even sentimental.  It is literal and physical.  So much so that nine months later you have to give it a name, and then the three become one:  one family.

Jesus said to his disciples:  “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”

Well, what isn’t Jesus telling us?  It’s probably what St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans:  “Brothers and sisters:  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace.”

How do we get access to God’s grace?  By faith.  What does faith mean?  It means to leave the door wide open for God; to give Him an open invitation into our lives; to allow Him to take possession of our life.  It’s open season for God!  He can do whatever he wants with us, with me.  And we know that if you wish your love to grow, then you must allow some room for growing pains.

“We boast not only in the hope of the glory of God, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:4-5). 

Again, I am amazed at how people, who live together, are willing to tighten the knot.  Marriage brings people closer together, but it also brings weightier crosses.  But we say it’s worth it, because it is.  Marriage is hard work, but the rewards are incredible. 

Children are a blessing!  But they are also the source of many sleepless nights and the cause of so much pain.  But we say they are worth it, and indeed they are.  So although raising children is hard work, the indescribable joy they bring to life is worth it.

God (Love) is not fluffy.  It is not sentimental.  God (Love) is rock solid, chewy.  He is hard work.  If anything, love is first and foremost hard work...then sentimental.

A week ago I was very sad.  Why?  Because I didn’t win the Powerball!  And like so many, I really thought I was going to win.  I even prayed to God about it.  I asked Him to direct my pencil in the right direction.  I thought He was really inspiring me to pick the right numbers.  Like you, I really thought my numbers were “special”.  But I didn’t win.  I even had all the right intentions.  I was going to leave $100.00 to my Pastor.  And still I didn’t win.  [Hopefully by now you know I’m kidding].

Well, God is real.  He is rock solid.  He is not about to be blown away by some wind.  He is not fluffy.  He is not airy or sentimental; that is, here today and gone tomorrow.

Let’s ask for it!  Let’s ask the Lord to help us grow up in communion with Him.  Let’s beg God to take us further into His possession.  Believe me, this is what we truly desire.  Does this come as a surprise to you?  Maybe, but think about for a moment.  Remember when you were a child and how happy you felt when you got what you wanted?  Today, doesn’t it make you even happier to help others get what they want or need?  Remember how important winning was to you?  What about today?  Doesn’t it feel better to share your victories with others?  And how can we forget when we were young and stupid and how we vowed never to get married or to have kids.  Today, aren’t you still amazed at how much joy and excitement a child can bring into your life?

The problem with our love today is that it is not really real.  It is fake, superficial, a spur of the moment fling.  It is like us.  Our love is a reflection of who we are, and we are not very deep and nor is our faith.  We are not willing to endure trials or hardships out of love for others.  We want to skip the middle part and go right to the happy ending.  We are not willing to put in the work and/or hours required.  We have settled on living our lives like a series of snapshots – like the silly ones that kids post of themselves today:  mouths wide open and posed in fake jubilation.

Well, an open mouth is like an open mind, eventually it wants to chomp down on something solid.  God is chewy.  God is solid food.  The difference between “fluff” and “stuff” is the difference between living “for today” and living forever.