SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY TRINITY
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
After living times of abundant grace, love, forgiveness, dedication, sacrifice, and teaching by God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, it is time to continue with Ordinary Time in the liturgy. Despite that, we begin this second stage of Ordinary Time with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
Something that is very important for all cultures is remembering the past, and so Moses begins speaking to the people of Israel with these words: “Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” (Dt 4:32-34) To accept and recognize one true God brought with it the commitment to live out the covenant (the ten commandments).
The Prophets warned and denounced the danger of idolatry. The God of the people of Israel is transcendent, but he enters into history to live in close communion with his people. This is a lived and most valued certainty in the true religion of Israel. The initiative that God himself takes to go out from himself. Even though He is the almighty and transcendent God, he is not a far off being. The history of salvation shows over and over again this completely free gift of revelation and certainty of God’s presence. God is always there, he does not distance himself from men, but rather remains at the side of the creature which is his image and likeness. The people of Israel are proud that God desired to do this with the smallest and poorest people in terms of cultural resources and human power. He has chosen Israel as a sign of salvation for the whole world. A God who is interested in us. That is our God!
When I have driven to Mexico, I have regularly done it physically alone. Only on 2 occasions have I gone and come back driving. It is a little more than 2,500 miles. During the trip I communicate with my family and the first question is always: who are you with? My answer, no matter what is “my car is full”. And the second part of their question is: Who is with you? And I respond: “God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. My car has five seats, so it’s full. There’s no place for anyone else and so I am not alone!” This is the great truth proclaimed by the people of Israel, God has chosen them and from there has initiated the salvation of the entire world. God, throughout all of history, has never abandoned his people. That is our God!
The Gospel this Sunday affirms: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28: 19-20) Baptism is an indelible mark and firm seal of the presence, the communion and the action of the Three in favor of the human race. To baptize means that we are property of the Three. Baptism introduces us into the life and intimacy of the Three. But once again we are asked to obey what He wants: obey the commandments, with that we show that we belong to Him and that is the guarantee of our authentic freedom and responsibility as children. In this one and triune God we are recreated to belong to his own family. And so, to obey the Three and to do their will guides us on the path of true freedom and brings us to salvation.
Let us give thanks to God for our consecration in the Most Holy Trinity. Let us ask God to strengthen us with his presence. May he grant us the grace to live faithfully his commandments. And as daughters and sons of Him, may we reach eternal live. Amen.