Trinity Sunday: 2024 Year B

Matthew 28:16-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life". This mystery surpasses all human understanding, yet through faith in the revealed truth of God we are able to know and draw near to One True God. We glorify God through faith, professing the One Holy Undivided Trinity recognizing the perfect unity and real distinction of the Divine Persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

When you give glory to the Father you also glorify the Son and the Holy Spirit and so it is for each Divine Person. By glorifying the Son you glorify the Father and the Holy Spirit. By glorifying the Holy Spirit you glorify the Father and the Son. And so in the Mass this is professed with loud acclamation.

Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

John 5:23 so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him. John 12:44-48 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me… Matthew 10:40-42 … he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me… Luke 10:16 … whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also… John 16:14 He [The Holy Spirit] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

And so we worship the Holy Trinity One God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines worship in the context of the virtue of religion, which is part of the broader virtue of justice. Worship recognizes God as God, the creator and saviour, the Lord and master of everything that exists to whom is due all praise, thanksgiving and love. Worship involves acts of reverence and honour given to God such as:

Adoration: The first act of the virtue of religion is adoring God as our Creator and Saviour, recognizing His supreme infinite perfection.

Prayer: Prayer is an important part of worship, and it is the lifting up of the mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.

Sacrifice: Offering sacrifices, in various forms, has been a universal expression of religion, and through Christ, the unique sacrifice of the cross is made present in the Eucharist.

Commandments: The Catechism also links worship with the observance of the commandments, particularly the Third Commandment to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

Worship, therefore, is not just a single act but a comprehensive set of attitudes and actions that reflect our relationship with God and our recognition of His sovereignty over all creation. Act of adoration, prayer, sacrifice and keeping the commandments.

The Catechism states, "The worship rendered by the Church to God must be, in its entirety, interior as well as exterior." An expression of the heart and mind, as well as exterior, manifested through physical gestures, rituals, and communal participation. Worship is a continuous profession of faith, as expressed through living a life animated by faith. A life with God in it.

Rejection of False Idols: True worship also means rejecting the worship of false gods, The First Commandment clearly states: "You shall have no other gods before me." Worship is about recognizing God as the source of all goodness and love, and committing oneself to Him alone.

Idolatry, in its most basic sense, refers to the worship of idols. An idol can be a physical object, such as a statue, that is worshipped as a representation of a deity or god. However, we can make idols of things by our extreme admiration, devotion, love, or reverence. You can idolise almost anything: money, consumerism, pleasure, success, sports, yourself, healthy living, celebrities, politics, etc. Idolatry is to put anything above, before or in the place of God. When the admiration or devotion becomes excessive where it influences their actions and decisions in a significant way, this would constitute idolatry.

The modern world seems to do anything for money while seeking to do the bare minimum, if anything, for God. They will even excuse themselves from prayer or going to Mass on Sunday saying they are too busy, God will understand. They have time for any and everything but God.