The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Gospel according to John 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.'

The Trinity - Andrei Rublev, 1411 or 1425-27 - Old Katholikon of the Trinity Lavra, Sergiyev Posad, Russia

Reflections

Today’s reading takes us back to Jesus’ words to his disciples during the Last Supper. Even though He spent years with them; he talked with them, ate with them, and they were eyewitnesses of his deeds, there was always something surprising and something new that Jesus shared with them. On this occasion, for example, we may recall how surprised they were when Jesus donned an apron, stooped down to wash their feet, and, despite Peter’s protest, explained to them that they are to serve each other. Later, during the Passover Meal, he took bread and broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) And, lifting the chalice, he said, “Take and drink from it all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28).

Little did the disciples understand of the significance of these actions that came to represent the foundation of the faith, which we celebrate in the Eucharist, that Jesus gave his life for the redemption of sins. At the time, they only heard the words, participated in the gestures. Later, they came to see Jesus crucified, and dead, laid in the tomb and encountered Him resurrected from the dead. They became eyewitnesses of a further truth, which at the time of the Last Supper was still concealed from their eyes: That God manifested Himself in the greatest act of love by sending Jesus into the world to offer His life for the ransom of sinners. (3)

In todays’ discourse, Jesus points to something else beyond their understanding: He says that everything that belongs to the Father is his. Everything that he has will be taken by the Holy Spirit and given to the disciples; with time, as their understanding allows, the truth will be gradually revealed to them (John 16:15). Saying this, Jesus established two facts: That he is God, and that the revelation of God’s will is to continue through the Holy Spirit.

Being witnesses to the historical truth of Jesus is easy to bypass if we consider that two thousand years have passed since he walked the streets of Jerusalem. Still, in the same city, the same streets exist today. In the Holy Land of today, basilicas and grottos guard the holy places where Jesus was born, where he performed his miracles, and where he went to heaven. These holy sites always provide an experience of profound grounding to the stories we find in the Bible. They provide evidence that Jesus was a historical figure who lived among us. Yet, only accepting the humanity of Jesus leaves part of the story untold. Jesus did not say that he was a human being just like us; he claimed that he was God. This was the reason why he was crucified. And this stumbling block to many is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Accepting or disregarding the evidence for Jesus’ actual physical presence still leaves the most important question unanswered: Who is Jesus in reality? Do we Christians worship three gods: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Or one God, “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?” (Gen 50:24; Exodus 3:15; Acts 7:32). In today’s passage, Jesus makes it clear that he is of the same significance as the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thus, the answer is that we do not worship many gods, we worship the One God, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy spirit. (1)

In the fourth century, St. Augustine explained the unity and the distinct nature of the Trinity as follows:

“All those Catholic expounders of the divine Scriptures, both Old and New, whom I have been able to read, who have written before me concerning the Trinity, Who is God, have purposed to teach, according to the Scriptures, this doctrine, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit intimate a divine unity of one and the same substance in an indivisible equality; and therefore that they are not three Gods, but one God: although the Father hath begotten the Son, and so He who is the Father is not the Son; and the Son is begotten by the Father, and so He who is the Son is not the Father; and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son, but only the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Himself also co-equal with the Father and the Son, and pertaining to the unity of the Trinity." (1)

The eyewitnesses may have all died, the Church Fathers may have all perished, the documents may have all been lost or destroyed. After Jesus death, many claimed that he did not resurrect, that He was not God, that this was all a story invented by his desperate followers. Jesus himself reassured the disciples that when these things will take place, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Advocate, will help the disciples recall everything that he has taught them, and more.…The Holy Spirit will reveal to them the truth that they were not yet capable of understanding, which will enable them to be witnesses of God’s unceasing love.

In all of our lives, there can be some truths that are yet hard to understand, that we would not be capable of comprehending. Life is made of such intricate aspects of new insights, learning and revelation, when we can see that God does not demand from us what we do not understand yet, but slowly and gradually reveals a bit of the truth that we can start to understand. This may come through contemplation, prayer, or listening and reading something that is new to us or explains something in a way that we were not aware of before.

Sometimes, this revelation comes through understanding how God works in our lives in mysterious but tangible ways. Pope Bendict XVI wrote in Sacramentum Caritatis, that “The aim of all Christian education, moreover, is to train the believer in an adult faith that can make him a ‘new creation,’ capable of bearing witness in his surrounding to the Christian hope that inspires him” (4)

Many people claim that they know the truth and they want to impose that on others. If we observe carefully, we notice that Jesus did not engage with his disciples in philosophical debates. He did not argue with them about the truth; he showed it with his actions and taught it with his words. He left it to his audience to ponder and to discern the truth and to ascertain it. The same way, in encounters with others, we cannot impose our truth on others. However, when we stand our ground, clearly understand our values, and can share our experience, we can serve the cause of humanity’s common search for truth.

When we love others, people have evidence of what it is like being a Christian, rather than lofty words and statements. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and this Spirit can guide our words and actions and act in the world to unite us in one-fold: the community of those who work toward the peace and the hope of the Kingdom of God in which all can have a place.

On Trinity Sunday, we contemplate the mystery of the Trinity: God the Father, who creates and loves us; God the Son, who liberates and saves us, and God the Holy Spirit, who encourages and strengthens us. (2) We contemplate the words of the Bible, according to which we have all been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).

According to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, “The Trinity is a community of love and life that we are invited to be a part of and share in.” (2) In Pope Francis’ words, “the Trinity inspires us ‘to live with others and for others.’” (3) The Pope said that while we are often used to talking about ourselves and what we think, the Holy Spirit reveals something not about itself, but about the other, about the Father and the Son. (3)

“St. Paul the Apostle reminds us of our interconnectedness with those whose have gone before us. From Hebrews, 12:1, ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden of sin that clings to us and persevere in the running the race that lies before us.’ Let us pray for boldness to witness God’s love and presence out of love for others. We are new creation, so Holy Spirit, come and give us courage to speak with confidence about our faith and the transforming love of Jesus in our lives.” (4)

The truth will set us free to witness the truth that the Spirit reveals (John 8:32).

Sources

CNA (2015). The Trinity—Catechism of the Catholic Church. Articles 230-260. Retrieved from: www.catholicnewsagency.com. Accessed: June 10, 2025
Moore, M. (2017). Gospel Reflection for Trinity Sunday. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Retrieved from: www.oblates.ie/gospel-reflection-trinity-sunday/ Accessed: June 10, 2025.
Bukuras, J. (2022). Pope Francis: The Trinity inspires us ‘to live with others and for others.’ Catholic News Agency. Retrieved from: www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/2515522/pope-francis-trinity-sunday-focus-on-others Accessed: June 10, 2025.
Crock, L. (2023). Speaking as a witness to Christ’s love can transform others. Voices. Retrieved from: www.catholictimescolumbus.org. Accessed: June 10, 2025.