Holy Trinity Sunday in year B
Posté par diaconos le 25 mai 2021
# In Christianity, the Trinity (or Holy Trinity) is the one God in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal, partaking of the same divine essence and yet fundamentally distinct. The term Trinitas (= tri + unitas) was coined in Latin by Tertullian (155-220). The belief in the Trinity is the founding principle common to the main Christian denominations: Catholicism , Orthodoxy and Protestantism . The foundation of this doctrine is expressed in the Nicene symbol. The concept of the ‘Trinity’ is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament, but the three persons are named and manifested there repeatedly, both in their distinction and in their unity. For Christian theology, these three persons, or hypostases, constitute the one God in the form of the Trinity.
The Doctrine of the Trinity The dogma of the Trinity is, according to Christian doctrine, the consequence of the way in which God revealed his mystery: Having first revealed to the Jewish people his existence and uniqueness, which is echoed in the Old Testament, he then reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit by sending the Son and the Holy Spirit, which is echoed in the New Testament The Trinitarian concept (triad in Greek) first appears in Theophilus of Antioch, around 180, to designate God, his Logos and his Wisdom (Holy Spirit). The writings of the Church Fathers: Justin of Nablus , Irenaeus of Lyons , Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, bear witness to the debates that ran through the Church of the first three centuries. The same applies to the successive denunciation of different « heresies ». If the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are indeed present in the New Testament, we are still far from the precise doctrine of the Trinity as it will be defined in the fourth century.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had ordered them to go. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down, but some were doubtful. 18 Jesus came to them and said, « All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And I am with you always, to the end of the age. « (Mt 28:16-20)The Doctrine of the Trinity The dogma of the Trinity is, according to Christian doctrine, the consequence of the way in which God revealed his mystery: Having first revealed to the Jewish people his existence and uniqueness, which is echoed in the Old Testament, he then reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit by sending the Son and the Holy Spirit, which is echoed in the New Testament
The Trinitarian concept (triad in Greek) first appears in Theophilus of Antioch, around 180, to designate God, his Logos and his Wisdom (Holy Spirit)21. The writings of the Church Fathers: Justin of Nablus22 , Irenaeus of Lyons23 , Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, bear witness to the debates that ran through the Church of the first three centuries. The same applies to the successive denunciation of different « heresies ». If the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are indeed present in the New Testament, we are still far from the precise doctrine of the Trinity as it will be defined in the fourth century. (Mt 28, 16, 20)
Jesus appears to the eleven in Galilee
The eleven went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had indicated. They bowed down to him, but some had doubts. Jesus said that all power was his; he commanded his disciples to go to all nations, to instruct, baptise and teach them to keep his commandments; he promised to be with them every day until the end of the world. It seems that when he commanded his disciples to go to Galilee after his resurrection, he at the same time designated a mountain where they would meet him.
The events of Jesus’ life, such as the speech with which he inaugurated his kingdom as Messiah, the manifestation of his glory through his transfiguration, and his farewell speech, took place on mountains. Matthew mentions only his apostles, who were reduced to this number by the death of Judas : ‘Throwing the silver coins into the Temple, he withdrew and went and hanged himself. (Mt 27, 5)
But since Jesus had many disciples in Galilee who hastened to gather when they heard the news of his resurrection from the apostles who had returned from Jerusalem, several interpreters thought that the eleven were not alone at this meeting on the mountain, and identified this appearance with the one in which Jesus, according to the testimony of Paul, was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once : ‘Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at once, most of whom were still alive, and some of whom were dead. » 1 C0 15, 6)
It seemed to them easier to explain the doubts mentioned in this supposition. These doubts also arose in the circle of the apostles. Matthew did not mention the appearances of Jesus to his disciples in Judea and the talks he had with them there. But could he ignore them? Didn’t he himself report Jesus’ meeting with the women at the tomb and the words he spoke to them ? And were not all the events in Jerusalem between the risen Jesus and his disciples immediately known to everyone ?
« And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. « Faith in the divinity of the Son of God, still uncertain and weak in the hearts of many, was awakened victorious at the sight of Jesus, triumphing over death: « Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God! « (Jn 20:28) « Teach all nations. « This was the purpose of God’s mercy, which is boundless with regard to our fallen humanity. This command was at the same time a promise : « And because iniquity is increased, the love of many will grow cold » (Mt 24, 12).
How do we make the nations disciple? By these three means: instruction, baptism and the moral obligation to put into practice all the teaching of Jesus. Instruction was given to all the nations: baptism is administered to those who were made disciples of the nations. It was to these baptised disciples that the apostles had to teach to keep all that Jesus commanded.
Deacon Michel Houyoux
Links to other Christian websites
◊ Father Hanly : click here to read the paper → Homily for The Holy Trinity, Year B
◊ Britannica : click here to read the paper → The The Holy Trinity
♥ Father Michael de Stoop : « Trinity Sunday Year B «
Publié dans fêtes religieuses, La messe du dimanche, Religion, Temps ordinaire | Pas de Commentaire »