Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015) Readings: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (June 15, 2015)

Readings:  Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 <> 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 <> John 3: 16-18

Years ago, filled with the confidence of recently learned theological insights from my seminary classes, I proceeded to correct my father when he referred to God as the “Supreme Being.”  No, I responded, “God is not that, He is “Being Itself.”  I went on, waxing theologically with the words of my professor, “God is the ground of all being.”  My dad looked over at me with a puzzled and contrary look and responded, “What do you mean?” 

                                   

“Being itself”?  “The Ground of all Being”? Those are rather lofty and impersonal terms for describing God who creates us, redeems us and guides us.  Those are terms that need to be brought down to earth.  For lack of a better manner to say it, those terms need to be ‘fleshed-out’ with love and tenderness. 

Consider the readings from Sacred Scripture selected for today, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  Notice their brevity: brief, but clear in what is said and understood.  In them there are no lofty terms and concepts about God, but qualities like merciful and gracious, kindness and fidelity. 

  

True, God is not a being in the created sense.  It is more accurate to describe God as the “Ground of all Being.”  However, does that speak of relationship?  Does such obscure terminology move and inspire us?  As today’s Scripture readings teach us, our understanding of God needs to be enriched with the warmth of relationship.  We need to remember qualities like love, tenderness and relationship when we talk about God and seek to understand Him. 

Ancient theologians debated, “Is God more known by his essence or actions?”  St. John’s Gospel surely helps, as in today’s reading Jesus himself describes God, his Heavenly Father, by his actions:  “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …..”  

God: Almighty? Yes, but obviously very generous.  But, wait a minute, Jesus describing God.  Let’s keep the idea rolling: in the same breath and thought Jesus is describing himself.... of course! 

Noted theologian, Stephen Webb writes that God is “the Giver, the Given and the Giving.”  Now say, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  God, the Heavenly Father’s love is not a concept, but real.  His love is the gift of himself in Christ Jesus. God’s love is given in human and eternal form. 

In the face of the Divine mystery, we also come face to face with our limitations, especially those of an intellectual nature. The good news is that we also come face to face with the love of God that knows no limits.

God is Love.  We say that almost as a “mini-Creed.”  However, it’s true, not only in the mind, but in the heart and body.  As the “Given,” Jesus by his incarnation fleshes out the love of God.  As Jesus breathed on the disciples and said to them, “receive the Holy Spirit,” he made clear that God’s presence is an ongoing gift, a divine “Giving.”  

We have been given a sacred trust, a legacy of teaching on God that seeks to define God’s essence in limited human terms.  The question remains, what is our experience of God?  God seeks to be experienced by who and how he is: through his love and mercy.  God seeks to be known not only by our committing to memory his divine attributes, but more by putting into practice his ways. 

We are not God, but imitating the One who is Given and sharing in the Giving are actions we are fully capable of.  Hopefully, we will remember to thank the Giver.