Bulletin – 20250613 – 2153 – Parish of Baulkham Hills

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

After Pentecost, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the most holy Trinity this Sunday. Even though it belongs to the core of our Christian belief, it is still very difficult to grasp. The story of St. Augustine and the boy on the beach is a well-known parable illustrating the limitations of human understanding when it comes to divine mysteries, particularly the Holy Trinity. While Augustine was meditating on the Trinity, he saw a boy attempting to fill a small hole with seawater. The boy’s futile effort, and Augustine’s observation of its impossibility, led to the boy’s comment that it was even more impossible to grasp the Trinity with the human mind. It’s true that the concept of God as three “Persons” is a mystery.

Perhaps, the best way to grasp this mystery is through the meditation of relationship, with love playing the key role. God whose very nature is love — is a relationship. St. Augustine wrote: ‘You see the Trinity if you see love.’ Accordingly, our love always aims at a third party. Let me explain this in more detail. In our everyday lives, we are used to thinking that love only involves two people, a love and the beloved. Now, in this relationship, it can also happen that one person dominates over the other. So, in the love between two people, unequal relationship can sometimes arise. But if the love of two people is directed toward God, if God is involved in it, then theoretically there can be no inequality, because God is always the fullness of love. Where there is fullness, there is no room for inequality and dominance in a relationship. The concept of equality in God’s love refers to the doctrine that God loves every person equally and considers them equal before Him, regardless of race, gender, social status, or other differences. This equality applies both to people among themselves and to God’s love for everyone. Because God is the fullness of love, he creates each of us in this fullness. Therefore, those who love in God can only live this love in fullness and therefore only love others fully.

Love is relationship. It is the highest form of relationship. And that, simply put, is precisely what the Trinity means: that God is relationship within himself. Thus, the terms “Father” and “Son” are not gender terms, but relational terms: The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father. The Father gives himself completely to the Son, and the Son gives himself completely in return. Thus, Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “All that the Father has is mine.” The Holy Spirit is relationship; he is the love and life of God himself.

We are invited to live together in love and in community, as God models for us. Living in a community means being open to others and accepting them in their entirety. It means taking responsibility for our fellow human beings and seeking solutions to challenges together. God calls us to live in love and community to make the world a better place.

A wonderful example of this community life in love was the brunch on Pentecost Sunday. More than 500 parishioners from St Michael’s and Our Lady of Lourdes came together to enjoy the international food fare, which many had prepared with love. On behalf of everyone, I would like to thank the organizers and helpers for this wonderful demonstration of love.

Have a great Weekend

Fr Joe