C, The Holy Trinity homily (15 June 2025)

 

TOPIC C, THE HOLY TRINITY

C, THE HOLY TRINITY HOMILY, JOHN 16:12-15, JUNE 15, 2025

 

1. STORY

On their way to a buffet lunch, John and his friend were discussing and were puzzled by the doctrine of the Trinity.   They entered the restaurant and saw about 20 delicious dishes from which they could choose.  They chose about 10 different kinds of food lamenting that their stomachs were not big enough to eat all the other dishes.  John then thought as their stomachs were not able to eat all the delicious foods, their minds were not able to understand many doctrines of the Church, especially the one concerning the Trinity.

 

2. THE GOSPEL, JOHN 16:12-15

A. I HAVE MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU

For three years Jesus taught the disciples many wonderful things about God, about life, and about heaven.  He told them there was still much more they had to learn and that he would teach them through the Holy Spirit.  “When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”

B. THE THREE NAMES

In this passage Jesus tells us about Himself, the Spirit, and about His Father.  This has led the great minds of the Church to conclude that there is only one God but three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  We call this doctrine the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. THE HOLY TRINITY

i) We are blessed knowing something of this great doctrine. There is only one God but God is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  It is only because Jesus taught us this that we know this great secret.

ii) In our prayers and in our liturgy, we use the prayer, “In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

B. THE NEED FOR HUMILITY 

i) Although we have a wonderful mind, our knowledge is limited.  There are many things we know but many more things we do not know.

a) We know that one candle can have a flame, heat, and light; but it remains one candle.

b) We know that water can be a solid, ice, a liquid, water, and steam; yet all are water.  From all of this, we recognize the importance of humility which means we know some things but there are many things that we do not know.

C. THE NEED FOR UNITY

The teaching of the Trinity helps us to know that the importance of unity for the Trinity is the model of unity.  We must work to bring about unity in our family, in our Church, in our society, and in the world.  How do we do this?

i) We PRAY for unity among all.

ii) We RESPECT others’ thought, we may or may not agree with their beliefs or actions.

iii) We use DIALOGUE and not violence to bring about unity.

 

4. CONCLUSION

i) John realized that as his stomach was limited in the amount of food he could eat, so too was his mind limited in how much he could understand.

ii) Jesus told us that there was much more we had to learn, and the Holy Spirit will help us to find the truth.

iii) Jesus taught us about the Father, himself, and his Spirit. This doctrine is known as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  We must be humble knowing of our limitations and strive to bring about peace in our family, Church, society, and the world.  We ask Jesus for his help.