Saturday, May 30, 2015

Mary, the Beloved of the Holy Trinity



The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
May 31, 2015
Mt 28:16-20

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19)”

Today, we are celebrating the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. This Mystery is rightly called the mystery of all the mysteries because the Holy Trinity is at the core of our Christian faith. Yet, the fundamental truth we believe is not only extremely difficult to understand, but in fact, it goes beyond our natural reasoning.  How is it possible that we believe in three distinct Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and yet they remain One God? Some of the greatest minds like St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have attempted to shed a little light on the mystery. However, at the face of such immense truth, the best explanations would seem like a drop of water in the fast ocean. A tale once goes that while meditating on the mystery, St. Augustine walked at the seashore and encountered a little boy digging a hole in the sand. He saw that the lad tried to transfer the water of the sea into that small hole. St. Augustine told the boy that it would be impossible, but suddenly the boy replied that it would be the same thing if St. Augustine insisted to put the great mystery inside his head.
However, we are also celebrating the last day of May, the month of our Lady. We are reminded that the best attitude toward the most wonderful Mystery of the Holy Trinity is of Mary. In the story of the Annunciation (Luk 1:26-38), Mary was facing the biggest mystery in her life as well as potentially life- changing decision. Just like any of us, confronting the puzzling and most likely impossible situation, she made a rational inquiry, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” Then, the angel Gabriel explained that it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that she was going to be with a child. Unfortunately, for our human reasoning, the answer was not satisfactory. Yet, Mary resisted no longer. Despite the failure of mortal understanding, Mary had faith in the limitless power of God and she gave her yes to God. Her consent then transformed the universe.
The moment of Annunciation is in fact the first event in the New Testament in which the Holy Trinity revealed themselves. The Father’s presence symbolized by the overshadowing power of God, known also in Old Testament as ‘Shekinah’. The Holy Spirit came as the active agent in miraculous conception. The Son was then made flesh in the womb of Mary. Indeed the divine mystery of Holy Trinity was first revealed to Mary and we believe that this is because God knew well how Mary was going to respond to this revelation. When the mystery went beyond her intellectual capacity, Mary submitted herself to very mystery itself and surely, she has changed the world for the better. This also should be our attitude toward such marvelous Mystery.
When we made our religious profession to the Order, our provincial, Fr. Gerard Timoner III, OP reminded us that we are going to promise something that we actually do not have yet. This is our future. But, despite the great mystery before us, we promised it anyway because we believed that God will give the best future for us. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope (Jer 29:11).”­ Indeed, I have experienced that the more I insisted on my own plans, the more I got frustrated, but the more I surrender to His will, the more meaningful and joyful my life has become.

Our Mother, you have showed us the best attitude at the face of such immense Mystery. Teach us to follow your footstep. Teach us to believe that nothing is impossible for God. Teach us to accept that God’s mystery is much better that our own design.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval, pray for us!
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

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