Fr. Joeven Matugas, SX
HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY
I begin my reflection by saying: Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son and Glory to the Holy Spirit. I recall the story of Card. Tagle of Manila when he said that one of his student candidates for M.A. wrote the title of his Thesis 3nity, instead of the word Trinity. The cardinal said: " Let us be careful in our writing today".
Today we celebrate the solemnity, the great feast of the Triune God. It is the feast of our God. What can we get and learn from this feast? I remember when I was still a student during Theology, when we were preparing for our comprehensive examination. We wondered: "What if the panelist will ask us to explain the Trinity to the people who are selling food stuffs in the streets. How would we explain it to them? " Simple question but hard to answer.
It may sound a rather awkward question. But it is not awkward at all. It is in fact challenging and interesting. It is true indeed that it is difficult to explain the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, if we use philosophical or pure theological tools. But our purpose in this feast, in this liturgy is for us to see and to experience the wondrous deeds of God as manifested in us. How is his magnanimous love communicated to us? How does His loving presence become visible within us? And moreover, the oneness, the unity, the communitarian model that the Trinity shows to us. The Trinity as we are used to express the perfect model of communitarian life. The perfect model of unity in this world.
The vendors, the peddlers selling on the streets do not know theology as we do. They do not study like us. But how can we explain to them this oneness and unity in God? These people are poor. Their concern is to have something to eat. But then they are sons and daughters of God. They are believers in God. Others may not. However, these people need to be helped, need to be educated, and need to be guided. By buying their food stuffs in order for them to support their families; I think we are living and already explaining to them the Trinitarian and communitarian way of life. And this is the main essence or model of this feast of the Holy Trinity.
The Blessed Trinity, the Triune God, the perfect unity/oneness of our God. The Love of this One God that is so rich, so powerful and so meaningful. And it gives us the perfect image, the absolute model of communitarian love.
When teaching catechesis to the children, I always ask them these questions:
"How many Gods do we have?" Children answer in unison: " One."
"How many persons are there in God?" Children answer: " Three."
"Which are they?" Children answer: " God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit."
I find it pleasant teaching the children in this way about the Truth of our God especially here in Sierra Leone, where society is so highly influenced by Islam. But then the teaching in our Catechesis is more on the basis of pure notions. It is more on information. Our challenge as catechists is to teach them that God is not far from us. He is near and close to us. To teach them that God is alive, present to us, and that we can have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. That the Trinity can be found inside our home when we love each other. It can also be found in the square of the village when people are interacting and helping each other. It is in the school when we study dutifully. It is also in the farm when we work together. It is in the market place when we buy and sell foodstuffs in an honest and human way. More so when people gather together in unity, working for the good and the development of the community.
HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY
I begin my reflection by saying: Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son and Glory to the Holy Spirit. I recall the story of Card. Tagle of Manila when he said that one of his student candidates for M.A. wrote the title of his Thesis 3nity, instead of the word Trinity. The cardinal said: " Let us be careful in our writing today".
Today we celebrate the solemnity, the great feast of the Triune God. It is the feast of our God. What can we get and learn from this feast? I remember when I was still a student during Theology, when we were preparing for our comprehensive examination. We wondered: "What if the panelist will ask us to explain the Trinity to the people who are selling food stuffs in the streets. How would we explain it to them? " Simple question but hard to answer.
It may sound a rather awkward question. But it is not awkward at all. It is in fact challenging and interesting. It is true indeed that it is difficult to explain the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, if we use philosophical or pure theological tools. But our purpose in this feast, in this liturgy is for us to see and to experience the wondrous deeds of God as manifested in us. How is his magnanimous love communicated to us? How does His loving presence become visible within us? And moreover, the oneness, the unity, the communitarian model that the Trinity shows to us. The Trinity as we are used to express the perfect model of communitarian life. The perfect model of unity in this world.
The vendors, the peddlers selling on the streets do not know theology as we do. They do not study like us. But how can we explain to them this oneness and unity in God? These people are poor. Their concern is to have something to eat. But then they are sons and daughters of God. They are believers in God. Others may not. However, these people need to be helped, need to be educated, and need to be guided. By buying their food stuffs in order for them to support their families; I think we are living and already explaining to them the Trinitarian and communitarian way of life. And this is the main essence or model of this feast of the Holy Trinity.
The Blessed Trinity, the Triune God, the perfect unity/oneness of our God. The Love of this One God that is so rich, so powerful and so meaningful. And it gives us the perfect image, the absolute model of communitarian love.
When teaching catechesis to the children, I always ask them these questions:
"How many Gods do we have?" Children answer in unison: " One."
"How many persons are there in God?" Children answer: " Three."
"Which are they?" Children answer: " God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit."
I find it pleasant teaching the children in this way about the Truth of our God especially here in Sierra Leone, where society is so highly influenced by Islam. But then the teaching in our Catechesis is more on the basis of pure notions. It is more on information. Our challenge as catechists is to teach them that God is not far from us. He is near and close to us. To teach them that God is alive, present to us, and that we can have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. That the Trinity can be found inside our home when we love each other. It can also be found in the square of the village when people are interacting and helping each other. It is in the school when we study dutifully. It is also in the farm when we work together. It is in the market place when we buy and sell foodstuffs in an honest and human way. More so when people gather together in unity, working for the good and the development of the community.