WORD FOR MISSION
Missionary reflection  on Sunday Liturgy

The Holy Trinity: source of mercy and of mission

Trinity Sunday
Year “A” - Sunday 18.05.2008
 

Exodus  34:4-6,8-9
Psalm:  Dn 3:52-56
2Corinthians  13:11-13
John  3:16-18

 

Reflections
There are many questions about the mystery of God: What is God like within Himself? How does he live? What does he do? Where does he live?... They are the kind of questions that just about everyone asks, at various stages in life. Today’s feast of the Most Holy Trinity answers a number of these questions, at least for Catholics. It is the Feast of “One God in Three Persons” , as the Catechism tells us. That says it all, but in reality everything is still left to be explained and understood, to absorb with love and to adore in contemplation. The topic has an enormous, central importance for Mission. In fact, it is easy to say that all peoples – even non-Christians – know that God exists; they name God and call upon God in various forms. Indeed, it is easy to agree in saying that even pagans believe in God. This shared truth – though with some differences and reservations – makes dialogue possible between religions, in particular the dialogue between Christians and the followers of other religions. On the basis of a single God common to all, it is possibile to put together an understanding among peoples in preparation for common action: in favour of peace, in the defence of human rights, in carrying out projects for human and social development. In recent times we have seen courageous gestures of understanding and collaboration, proposed by John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI. But for the evangelising activities of the Church these initiatives, though praisworthy and necessary, are just a part of the message to be transmitted. Missionary commitment is called on to offer the world resources that are even more capable of transforming human life: the newness of Christ!

A Catholic is not satisfied by basing his spiritual life only on the existence of One God; nor can – even more so – a missionary who is aware of the extraordinary richness of the gift of Jesus Christ, that leads into the mystery of the Triune God. The Gospel that the missionary carries to the world, besides enriching the understanding of monotheism, opens up the immense and ever surprising mystery of God, who is a communion of Persons. The word mystery here must not be understood simply in the sense of a hidden truth, but rather in truths that are always new, to be discovered. In this area, it is better to leave the word to the mystics. For St. John of the Cross, “there are many greater depths to be sounded in Christ. Indeed, He is like a mine rich in immense veins of treasure of which, no matter how deep one goes, the end cannot be found; indeed, in each cavity, new veins of wealth are discovered”. Considering the Trinity, St. Catherine of Siena exclaims: “You, O eternal Trinity, are like a deep ocean, in which the more I search the more I find, and the more I find, the more the thirst to seek you increases. You are insatiable; and the soul, filling itself in your depths is not satiated, because the hunger for you remains, and it desires you all the more, O eternal Trinity”.

The revelation of the Triune God has (that is, it must have) immediate and amazing consequencess for the life of a believer: it offers new dimensions regarding the mystery of God, regarding the way of forming relationships between human persons, regarding the relationship of man with creation... even the dialogue between religions is enriched with new horizons, as expressions like the following show:

An anonymous source has transmitted a brief but profound dialogue between a Moslem and a Christian:

- The Moslem said: “For us, God is one; how could he have a son?”

- The Christian replied: For us, God is love; how could he be alone?”

The God of Christians is Trinitarian, being one, but not solitary. This revelation even enriches the monotheism of Judaism, Islam and other religions. Indeed, the God revealed by Jesus (Gospel) is God-love, God who wants the world to live, God who offers salvation to all peoples (vv.16-17; cfr. Jn.4:8). He has always revealed himself as a “God of mercy and pity... rich in love and faithfulness” (1st. Reading, v.6) “A God rich in mercy” (Eph.2:4).

“Where does God live?” The catechism tells us that God is in Heaven, on earth and everywhere. This is true, but there is an even more vital and personal reply. One day the Rabbi Mendel di Kotzk asked some of his learned guests: “Where does God live?” They all laughed: “Why, don’t you know? Is not the earth full of his glory?” But the rabbi replied: “God lives wherever He is let in”. God seeks a personal encounter, friendship, with each of us. Not for His own good, obviously, but for ours. Because this friendship is for us the one guarantee of life and of joy. He stands at the door of our heart and knocks; to the one who hears and opens the door, he promises: “I will enter and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). With an intimacy that warms the heart and renews life.

All nations have the right and the need to know this true face of God, revealed by Jesus. Missionaries are its bearers. (*)  Hence the Council declares that the pilgrim Church is missionary by its very nature, in that it takes its origin from the mission of the Son and from the mission of the Holy Spirit, according to the plan of God the Father (cf. Ad Gentes, 2) In the early paragraphs of  the same Decree, the Council explains the origin and the trinitarian foundation of the universal mission of the Church, and in the process if offers one of the most exquisite theological syntheses of the whole Council.

The Pope’s Words
(*)  “Every person has the right to hear the ‘Good News’ of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ, so that each one can live out in its fullness his or her proper calling. This lofty reality is expressed in the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman: «If you knew the gift of God», and in the unconscious but ardent desire of the woman: «Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst» (Jn 4:10.15)”.

Pope John Paul II

Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, (1990) 46; and see 11.40.44.

In the steps of Missionaries
- 20/5: St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444), Franciscan, tireless missionary and preacher.

- 21/5: St Charles Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861), Bishop of Marseilles and Founder of the OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate).

 - 21/5: Sts. Christopher Magallanes and 24 companaions, priests and laymen, martyred during the persecution in Mexico (+1927); they were killed at various times and in various places, always praising Christ the King.

- 21/5: Memoria of seven French Trappists, killed by Islamic fundamentalists (+1996) at Tibhirine (Algeria).

- 24/5: Bl. John del Prado (+1631), a Franciscan priest who was a missionary martyr in Morocco, where he worked among Christian slaves.

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Compiled by Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci - Comboni Missionaries (Verona)

Translated by Fr. J.M. Troy, mccj

Website:    www.euntes.net    “The Word for Mission”
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