Homily Feast of the Trinity June
6, 2004
Story:
In this month of June, as we move from Easter Time to
Ordinary Time we introduce this new season with two feasts of dogma – that of
the Trinity, Today, and that of the Eucharist, next week.
What is dogma? The American author Flannery O’Connor
suggested that “Dogma is only a gateway to contemplation and is an instrument
of freedom and not of restriction. It preserves mystery for the human mind.”
Today in the praying assembly we celebrate the dogma of the
Trinity, and in our celebrating, all present are invited to pass through
dogma’s gateway so as to be fully and freely immersed in the mystery of
Trinity.
Through the centuries, many have attempted to explain the
dogmas and enunciate the mystery of Trinity in a variety of ways. Some have offered symbols intended to
elucidate the three-in-oneness of God.
An equilateral triangle, three interwoven circles, a trefoil, three fish
formed into a circle, a shamrock – all have been held forth, at one time or another,
as right-brain illustrations of Trinity.
Others have taken a more left-brain approach, elaborating
long and complex theological doctrines to elucidate the mystery. Church councils have alternately debated and
defended, parsed and pontificated on the triune nature of the Divinity. Great minds have also lent themselves to the
effort: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin, Theophilus, Irenaeus and
many others have attempted to explain the mystery and guide the faithful
through dogma’s gate and to a greater understanding of Trinity.
But understanding does not necessarily lead to contemplation,
and contemplation, as O’Connor has suggested is the only worthy response to the
mystery we celebrate today. It could be
said that explanations are perhaps of less importance than experience. We know God as Trinity not through any mental
gymnastics or through purely intellectual reasoning. Our knowledge of God as Trinity is made
possible by God, who has chosen to be revealed as Mother, Father, Son and Brother,
and as living, loving Spirit. As Parent,
God has brought forth the created universe and even our very selves. As Son and Brother, Jesus has made known a
God who hears our cries, who cares, who counts the hairs on our head and who
loves so passionately as to become one of us, to suffer for our sins, to die
that we might live. As Spirit, God
remains with and within us. These are
the experiences of Trinity; these experiences become known in prayer, they are
solidified and made palpable through contemplation.
Therefore, today might best be celebrated not with wordy
explanations that will leave us standing outside the locked gate of mystery,
but with a quiet waiting and watching that will prepare us for welcoming the
gift of God’s triune self-revelation and open the gateway to
contemplation. Priest, author and
contemplative Edward Hays suggests a new way to pray based on the Koran’s
insistence that God is closer than the vein in your neck. What a beautiful way to pray, says Hays. What a wonderful way to pass through dogma’s
gate. Begin, he instructs, by placing
your first and second fingers on your throat’s jugular vein; the life that
pulsates within you will welcome your touch.
This silent, sensual touch reminds us of the Triune God’s perpetual
presence and enables us to commune without words with the God who has willed to
be always within our reach. Linger
there, return as often as you wish and feel the rigorous throbbing of life
within you, God’s life, the life of Father Son and Spirit.