Fr Jack SJ MD: Oh Most Holy Trinity Undivided Unity: Homily for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Rom 8:14-17

Mt 28:16-20

The gospel and real life came together this weekend. Yesterday morning at St. Ignatius I baptized the eight-month old daughter of friends using the ancient formula outlined in today’s gospel. Not one sound of protest came from the baby as I poured the water over her head while pronouncing the formula in today’s gospel: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.“ This formula is the sine qua non of baptism. Baptism using any different formula e.g. “The Church baptizes you . . . “ “We baptize you ,“ or degendered and woke formulae is neither sacramental nor is it valid. The ritual must be repeated using proper sacramental form.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity we are compelled to contemplate the essential dogma of our faith, the dogma we recall every time we pray. What we call the Trinitarian formula is NOT the gender-free version in vogue in certain circles that pray and baptize in the name of creator, redeemer, and sanctifier. Besides being linguistically awkward it is theologically and philosophically wrong. A function does not define a person and no person is fully defined by a function. The dogma of the Holy Trinity is One God in Three Divine Persons. It does not describe a small ‘g’ god defined by and limited to three functions. The perversion of the formula to creator, redeemer, and sanctifier reduces God to functions not persons. Might as well use quarterback, fullback, and water boy. It would be an equally function-based formula. And equally absurd.

The Trinitarian formula, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is critical to the Church's seven sacraments, from baptism to the anointing of the sick and dying. The sign of the cross begins and ends everything the Church does, as it should and as it must.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, (#234) notes: “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in Himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the hierarchy of the truths of faith.”

Every time we make the sign of the cross we recall a mystery that is ultimately incomprehensible. Many volumes attempt to explain the it but explaining the Trinity is an impossible undertaking if there ever was one. Each book may contain a kernel of insight into the nature of the Trinity depending on the biases of the writer. However, the sum of all the books written does not capture the essence of the Trinity. The trinitarian dogma depends on faith. This raises the question: What is faith?

A dictionary definition is: “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” The Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. . . . By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the Word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible."

Thus, we must become comfortable with faith at its most mysterious and impenetrable because despite the absence of logical proof, despite the impossibility and futility of philosophy, science, or theology of ever "explaining" the Trinity, no one can declare him or herself a Christian if he or she denies the Trinity.

The word Trinity does not appear in scripture. The understanding of the Trinity grew in the earliest years of the Church following Pentecost as she began to consider and meditate upon what Jesus said and did during His time on earth. Jesus always speaks of His Father as distinct from Himself but He also notes that “I and the Father are One.” The same is true of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus refers to His oneness with the Father he is referring to substance and NOT the functions of creator, redeemer, or sanctifier.

The ancient Creeds in Greek use homoousion which was translated into consubstantialem in Latin. It is obvious that the English consubstantial, meaning one essence or one substance, is rooted in the Latin. We are accustomed to persons being distinct rather than the same and have a hard time wrapping our minds around the concept of “consubstantial."

Over the past weeks many of the gospel readings have been taken from the farewell discourse in John’s Gospel. Jesus refers to both the Father and the Holy Spirit in reference to Himself several times in this discourse. The Trinity is a mystery. However, it is also the mystery that allowed Paul to write in his Letter to the Romans:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.”

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Photos were taken while wandering around downtown Boston one night. Thoroughly enjoy shooting at night.