THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
Ex 34: 4b-6; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18

LOVE: THE SOURCE OF CREATION, HEALING AND SANCTIFICATION

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”, as so affirmed by St. John (Jn 3:16).  St. Paul also emphasized:  “He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all” (Rm 8:32).

Who are we to receive such special treatment from God?  The psalmist, when contemplating all the marvels that God created, must exclaimed:
            What is man that you should be mindful of him,
            The son of man that you should care for him?
            Yet humanity is like a breath
            Our days rapidly speed away as the time.

Our human condition is as frail as the “breath” we take, yet why would God give his only Son up to be condemned to death so that we may live?  No answer can fully satisfy this question as St. John’s:  Because God is Love.

This love express itself perfectly in Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God; but Jesus Christ who is the only begotten Son of the Father, had revealed the mystery of God’s love to us (Jn 1:8).  The first revelation of God’s love is manifested through the incarnation of Christ – God became man.

When we love someone, we become more humble.  This is one of the characteristics of love.  An author once wrote:  “Has any man ever said to his lover: ‘I love you, but you must remember: I come from a rich family, I have a doctorate in physics, while you are simply a poor, uneducated peasant girl, that is why you must know your place’.  If so, then this is not true love…  A boastful attitude has no place within true love”  (x. Nghe Trong Thinh Lang).

When you love someone deeply, you long to be with that person.  Real life situations have shown that the summit of love and happiness between a man and a woman on their wedding day does not come from the fancy wedding dress or tuxedo, nor the big limousine, nor the praises from friends and relatives, but it is because of the fact that this couple have attained their hearts’ desires – to be with and to become one with the other.

In the same way, it is God’s Love that causes him to humble himself to the point of loweing himself from the position of Divine Being to become a mortal human being.

Another characteristic of love is the ability to give.  When in love, we can not refrain from giving to the one we love.  At first, we may give each other a handkerchief, or a shirt.  As love grows, we may give a ring, or a kiss.  Ultimately, we give our heart, our life to the one we love.

Love express itself in the act of giving.  Usually, we give something beautiful and valuable.  No man in his right mind would pick wilted flowers from his garden to give to his lover, just as no woman would want to go meet her lover looking so sad and gloomy.

Love requires giving.  The more a person loves, the more he/she gives.  The deeper the love, the more valuable the gift to the lover.  There is nothing more valuable than life itself; not just the physical life, but spiritual life as well.  Therefore, God express his love for us by giving us life through his work of creation; then He redeems us through his work of salvation; and finally, He enriches our life through his work of sanctification.  This is also the spring of Love from the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in the plan of salvation for all mankind.

In love, God the Father created mankind.  When mankind betrayed God’s love by immersing themselves in sin, and had to suffer its consequence which is death, God the Son had to save humanity through his own death in order that we may be forgiven and reconciled.  To continue the healing process and make humanity more beautiful according to God’s likeness, God in the Third Person – the Holy Spirit continues to teach us the truth, and to motivate and guide us toward perfection.

In this way, the process of salvation is an ever-flowing love of the Holy Trinity in the world, and those who swim in it will live fully forever.  Those who reject this love, will have brought upon themselves eternal damnation.

People who reject love are like people who refuse to breath the air.  Those who don’t breathe will soon die.  In the same way those who reject love will soon perish.

To love is to pave the way for life to enter.  In the same way that God’s love created, healed and renewed, you and I are invited to participate in the creation, healing and renewal of life around us.

That is why when we destroy life, or cause pain and destruction through hatred and jealousy, or when we contaminate life with our own selfishness, pride, and sin, we separated ourselves from God, we condemn ourselves, and enter into the pit of darkness and misery.  But the Lord never wants to see us fall into such condition.  He is ready to give up all things, even his only beloved Son, so that we may receive true happiness in Him.

Well then, what are we waiting for, why not respond to God’s magnificent love for us.    

C.T.