Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
MT 28:16-20
May 27,2018

It is estimated that at least three billion people watched “the Royal wedding” last weekend. That means that through the miracle of satellite communications, close to half of the world’s population was in attendance. Only a very few were required to wear silly hats, ridiculously uncomfortable shoes, or fancy suits. Personally, I did not “attend.”

I did, however, after the fact, locate and watch with great interest the homily delivered by Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry. I regard weddings as an opportunity to preach The Good News to a gathering of folks, many, if not most of whom are irregular church-goers or even nonbelievers. I was anxious to see how this preacher would take advantage of this opportunity to bring about conversions as he broke open The Word of God, to almost half of humankind. Since it was “Pentecost weekend,” I was excited that people around the world would be hearing The Good News broadcast to them in their own language as their local news translated whatever Bishop Curry had to offer. The occasion offered a real possibility for a 21st Century Pentecost.

The first thing that I took special note of was that he began with The Sign of The Cross. While this gesture is typical to Roman Catholics, it is the Baptismal formula by which all Christians begin their faith life here on earth. When we sign ourselves, we are expressing our hope that after death, in Eternal Light, we will be given a share in this indivisible union of love that is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What I did not see is how many people in the congregation took the cue and signed themselves.

Certainly, the non-Christians would not have. While other world religions acknowledge the existence of The Creator, they are not aware of the Divine quality of “Three-ness”…the belief that God is an invisible Trinity of Persons. From the very beginning, however, this revealed truth has been part of the deposit of faith that Jesus entrusted to the Apostles. Drawing from the Gospel accounts, the Blessed Trinity was part of the preaching, teaching, and prayer life of the early Church. St. Paul employed the concept of Triune God in his greeting to the Corinthian Community, one that we still use at Mass to this very day: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:14)

Admittedly, however, while it is a cornerstone of our faith and it is familiar to all Christians, our belief that God IS Three is something we celebrate, but cannot easily explain. In fact, Christian Marriage offers the perfect opportunity to explore this sacred mystery.

It is easy to summarize Bishop Curry’s homily at “the Royal Wedding.” He spoke about the power of love.

Believers and nonbelievers alike can appreciate that love has the power to draw two people together in an intimate sharing of every aspect of their lives. People entering into marriage, whether civil or Sacramental, seek a bond that is far more than a legal arrangement. The power of love causes human beings to seek a union, grounded in the hope that the marriage partners can be “all things” to and for one another.

And so last weekend, as The Church celebrated The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, over half of humanity celebrated the “Royal Wedding.” What a perfect occasion to better understand the Blessed Trinity! Through the power of infinite and unconditional love, God has revealed the Divine Self to humankind as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so that God can be “all things” to and for each and every one of us.

What we celebrate on this Trinity Sunday is the power of love, perfect and expressed to us through the communion of the Divine Persons…an intimate sharing of eternal life which those who strive to live in love will someday become part of.

May God Bless you…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen.