Weekly HOMILY for May 30, 2010: From Human Experience to Divine Persons

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
May 30, 2010

From Human Experience to Divine Persons
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


In the Image of God

We believe that we are made in the image of God. The Book of Genesis says that God made us “in his image and likeness.”

Given that, there must be reflections of God in us and in our experience.

Today, we honor God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity.

This evening/morning, I do not want to start with the doctrine of the Trinity and attempt to explain it.

Instead, I suggest that we start with ourselves and our own human experience. Our experience of ourselves as persons must in some way reflect God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I say that because this body of mine, if made in God’s image – and this is a God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – than that 3-fold reality must also be part of this (point to self) reality.

Let us reflect for a bit and see where this leads us.


The Father

First, let us be aware of our desire to foster life.

Be aware of our desire to be a mother or father and to bring a child into this world. Or be aware of our desire to pass on life by teaching or by spiritual guidance or by emotional support.

Be aware of the sheer pleasure in bringing life forth from the earth by growing tomato plants or by seeing Gerber daisies flower in our gardens. Be aware of our pleasure in feeding and grooming and tending our dog or cat and those soul-full eyes.

Be aware of our satisfaction in repairing the clothes’ washer. Or be aware of humanity’s satisfaction in exploring the universe or discovering new ways of healing through adult stem cells.

Be aware of all of this within us human beings. These are all reflections of God, the consummate creator, God whom we call the Father.


The Son

And now, be aware of our thirst to restore.

Be aware of our thirst to restore our marriage to the feeling of love it once had. Or be aware of our thirst to patch up a friendship that has grown distant.

Be aware of our undeniable need to forgive and our restlessness when we do not forgive. Or be aware of our lack of peace when we have not asked for forgiveness, even though we know we are responsible for wrongdoing.

Be aware of the crosses we have to bear and the strength that comes from beyond us to bear them. Or be aware of our seeking for meaning and purpose and the way to live our lives fully.

Be aware of all of this within ourselves as human beings. These are all witnesses of God, our Savior, God the Son.


The Holy Spirit

And last, let us get in touch with our passion for certain things.

Be aware of our passionate love for spouse or children or parents or close friends. Or be aware of our passionate care for all victims of violence and war.

Be aware of our ardent faith in God or our strong commitment to the environment or our undying care for human life. Or be aware of whatever it is that we will skip a meal for or even die for.

Be aware of our excitement at a new insight, perhaps the simple insight that God is love and that I am unconditionally loved by God. Or be aware of our growth over the years in wisdom and understanding, in patience and compassion.

Be aware of all of this within ourselves as human beings. These are all expressions of God, the Spirit operating from within, God the Holy Spirit.


Conclusion

I believe these human experiences reflect God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are in harmony with Jesus revealing to us the Father, calling himself the Son, and sending us his Holy Spirit.

It was these sorts of experiences that led to articulating, as a Church at the Council of Nicea, a statement about our belief in the Trinity.

This, of course, came to be known as The Nicene Creed that we recite each Sunday here at Mass.

Let us be aware that when we recite this Creed together that it is something that comes out of our very experience of our imaging God.