THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Trinity Sunday 26 May 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

A central doctrine is placed before us today for our consideration, inspiration, and adoration. This is a mystery of Faith that can only be appreciated by a humble and sincere submission of our memory, intellect and will to the incomprehensible revelations of God. 

There is only one God, yet there are three Divine Persons in God: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Each Person is separate from the Others: The Son is not the Father; the Father is not the Son; The Holy Ghost is not the Father; The Father is not the Holy Ghost; The Holy Ghost is not the Son; The Son is not the Holy Ghost. 

The Father is God; the Son is God and; the Holy Ghost is God. There is only One God. 

This is a mystery that is beyond our comprehension but which is placed before us to be believed by God and the Church. Sadly, many relying upon their own feeble intellect have chosen not to believe this Mystery and have severed themselves from the Church, grace, and eternal life. God insists upon the submission of our intellects and wills in all humility as this prerequisite to eternal life in heaven. 

We see the separateness of the Three Persons in the baptism of Jesus by St. John in the river Jordan. Jesus, the Son, came to the river, the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, the Father spoke from Heaven. Though they Each separate from the Others, They all act as one. 

At the Incarnation, we see that the Son became Man. Neither the Father, nor the Holy Ghost became Man and was born of the Virgin Mary. Nonetheless, the Father and the Holy Ghost cooperated in the Incarnation. The Father sent the Son. We recite in the Creed that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Blessed Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost. All Three acted as One, but only One – The Son – became Man. 

St. Augustine in an attempt to open this mystery up for us, looks to our own human nature made in the image and likeness of God to find a reflection of this separateness of persons, yet oneness of being. He finds within us a threefold power of our souls: memory, intellect and will. We see that the memory is not the intellect or the will; the intellect is not the memory or the will; and the will is not the memory or the intellect. Each is separate, but all act as one. In all our actions the memory, intellect, and will unite and act as one. 

St. Augustine further warns us that if we begin to imagine that we understand this mystery, that we are mistaken. It is a mystery and is beyond all the powers of our nature. We can see reflections of this mystery in all of creation and with the grace of God believe it, but its complete grasp is far beyond us. This distance is as from the highest to the lowest; from the infinite to the finite; from the Creator to the lowliest creature. 

This mystery and doctrine is essential for our salvation, but at the same time it is out of the reach of our fallen natures. We must be very careful not to dismiss this mystery as unimportant or insignificant. We must likewise avoid the mistake of imagining that we understand and thus become filled with demonic pride and vanity. 

It is related that St Augustine was once walking upon the shore contemplating this mystery when he happened to see an angel appearing as a small boy carrying a small pail of the ocean water and dumping it in a small hole he had dug in the sand. When St. Augustine asked him what he was doing, the boy replied that he was emptying the ocean into the hole. When St. Augustine responded that this is impossible, the boy replied it is easier for me to empty the whole ocean into this hole than it is for you to understand the infinitely mysterious Trinity of God.

God demands this faith and trust on our part as a necessity to admittance to His grace. He requires that we humbly admit and accept the limitations of our intellect. The proud and the vain will not enter His Kingdom. We must accept what He has taught us on His word alone. We must accept with full trust and confidence as little children. 

Let us in the quiet of our hearts and souls contemplate this mystery in the Being of God. In this contemplation may we be increasingly confounded in any attempt to understand. And at the same time may we ever be led to an ever increasing burning love for God in this great mystery.

What is left to us but, to adore this majestical and wondrous mystery that is presented to us for our sanctification. May we frequently during our days repeat and remind ourselves of this mystery every time we make the Sign of the Cross confirming and strengthening our faith.

How incomprehensible are His judgments and how unsearchable are His ways.