C: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (16 June 2019) - NOT ONLY FUNCTIONAL (Jn 16:12-15)

In our catechetical instructions, the usual explanation on the nature of the persons of the Holy Trinity is that the Father is the Creator, the Son is the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier. Specifically, the Father was the one who designed all things with his fateful “Let there be” (Gen 1:3) which culminated in the creation of man and woman (Gen 1:27). Some thousands of years later, the Son was sent into the world by becoming flesh via the providential “Let it be” of the Virgin Mary (Lk 1:38). His becoming flesh (Jn 1:14) paved the way to his redemptive act of dying on the cross at the end of his life, described as offered freely “for the ransom of the many” (Mt 20:28). Before he ascended to join the Father in heaven, Jesus commissioned his disciples with the mandate “Let them be baptized” (Mt 28:19). Earlier, he dispensed the Holy Spirit to each of them (Jn 20:22), which was later confirmed by the descent of tongues of fire that prompted them to evangelize all peoples (Acts 2:1-41). Now, we in the Church are enjoying the Spirit’s sanctifying presence, guiding us amidst the vicissitudes of life.

However, this simplification, though dogmatic in its truest sense, draws us away from the true identity of the Trinity. By looking exclusively at the roles of the persons of the Trinity, we are limiting their essence to “what they did and can do”. In technical language, we equate their value in terms of the economy of salvation. However, in our gospel today, we notice that even outside their individual functions they do exist and possess inherent values. Accordingly, the evangelist describes Jesus as talking about the Spirit, saying: “He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine” (Jn 16:14-15).

What the text above informs us is that the Holy Spirit will tell everything based on its intimate knowledge of Jesus (v. 13). Yet this knowledge of Jesus is taken from the latter’s intimate knowledge of the Father (v. 15). If the syllogism stands correct, then the Holy Spirit does not only glorify the Son (v. 14) but glorifies the Father as well. What is significant to note here is that they all operate on the basis of an intimate knowledge and experience of loving one another. They are already a Trinity even prior to their heroic activities because intimacy is their very nature.

In our competitive modern world, we judge people based on what they can do and how they can deliver at the highest level. The value of a human being is condensed to the result of his/her activities: if s/he is a success or a failure. Conversely, we are inherently valuable as persons even if we cannot perform well. Our identity should be defined on how we become intimately related to God and our neighbors, not on the basis of our utilitarian function as persons.

The First Reading beautifully outlines the intrinsic value of human beings: “The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded, before the oldest of his works…I was by his side, a master craftsman ,delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men”(Prov 8:22, 30-31). The sage here emphasizes that God created mankind for no other purpose outside himself/herself. Just his/her joyful presence before God is already more than enough for him/her to be called a “child of God”.

On a quotidian basis, we are too pressured to perform, to deliver, to function, and to succeed. All of these we do lest we are not anymore valued by the society. Yet, in the same way as the Trinity exists primarily because of their intrinsic worth—especially when intimate with one another—we are likewise valuable just by who we are. We should then take courage despite occasions of failure, mistake, sin and abandonment since we are not measured by God based on our successful deeds, but we are already precious just by ourselves since “the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us”(Rom 5:5).

- Rex Fortes, CM