1st Reading Proverbs 8: 22-31
Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7a, 7b-9 (R. 2a)
R:// "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!"
2nd Reading Romans 5:1-5
Gospel John 16: 12-15
WALKING IN WISDOM
Peace and Goodness, friends! We resume Ordinary Time, and today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The dogma of the Holy Trinity holds a special place in Christianity in that it makes Christianity a distinct religion. The Christian God is not merely a God but a Triune God. The dogma is that in the Godhead, there are 3 persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us try and untangle the Word of God and see what possible meanings they could hold for Trinity Sunday. Right from the Gospel passage (Jn. 16:12-15), we begin to see the three persons of the Godhead specifically mentioned. In that short passage, we hear about the relationship between the Father and the Son and the Son and the Father's relationship with the Holy Spirit. We see that John's Gospel communicates a message of distinctiveness but relatedness. This is unity in diversity.
Let us shift towards the complex first reading from Proverbs 8: 22-31. This passage tells us about the Son who is referred to as "Wisdom". The poetic text has the language of Genesis 1, the language of creation. Therefore, in Wisdom Literature, this is a hymn of creation. The author wants to tell us how old Wisdom is. He ends up giving the clear indication that it is as old as the creator. We cannot separate Wisdom from the Creator. The apostles and Church Fathers will dwell on texts as this to talk about Jesus' divinity and humanity. In fact, this passage has a strong influence on the Gospel according to John, especially the prologue. The elements of creation mentioned in the hymn are particularly drawn from Days one and two of creation. In that vein, we could consider it as a poetic commentary on the first two days of creation.
Let us consider a few things the author says about Wisdom.
The first thing we should talk about is: "The Lord created me at the beginning of his work" (Prov. 8: 22a). The initial impression is that there was a time when Wisdom was not, and Wisdom was "created". This is birth imagery, and it is metaphorical about the birth of creation. The author intends to communicate the eternal presence of Wisdom with the Lord. This kind of birth is to show the expression of God's own self. The question of the nature of Wisdom is that it is God's own self. As one who was present before the first of the Lord's acts of old, Wisdom becomes the ideal we can seek for in every decision we intend to make because she stands at the "crossroads" and voicing out (Prov. 8:1-3). The crossroads are the points of decision-making and trial. One who predates even the first of God's creation knows what way we ought to take in order to get back to Eden. Wisdom is God himself calling out to redeem and show the way.
The second detail is that Wisdom says, "I was beside him, like a master workman; I was daily his delight" (Prov. 8: 30). This has to do with the question of where Wisdom was in the act of creation. What was Wisdom's place or role in creation? Wisdom was "master workman". Some translations have "artisan". The Hebrew word is "אמון" ('âmôn). The word means "architect". The language here is one who builds. Precisely, that fits into the grand theme of creation. An architect is one who puts a piece of idea into effect. Wisdom as an architect is one who assists in creation by putting the whole idea of creation into reality. Through him, creation is what it is. Wisdom is not merely wisdom until it acts. Therefore, Wisdom is practical skill (chokmah), a kind of knowledge demonstrated through action. It is not enough knowledge and being shown the way. What suffices is the action you take in regard to the way you know about.
The third detail is that: "I was his daily delight" (Prov. 8: 30b). Let us dive into "daily". As a creative force, daily makes us recall the daily creative act of God in Genesis 1. What it means is that Wisdom is not only eternally present with God, but continually present with God. Every day, the Lord acts with Wisdom. That is nothing other than his WORD which he uses to speak things into being. In that regard, Wisdom will be delighted daily by the Lord, in which case Wisdom has a divine nature. Wisdom has a Divine nature. Proverbs 8: 31 says that, "Rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men". This speaks about Wisdom's relationship with humans. This has to do with the Humanity of Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom is both Divine and Human.
Dear friends, the kind of Wisdom you seek to guide you through the right way is divine. Yet, it has a human dimension. It affects humans. You sought Wisdom, and you have it. Wisdom had shown you the right path, and you have taken it. As you walk that path, that road, you ought to delight in the sons of men, humanity. Let your way of life, your decisions, and your actions have a positive impact on the lives of other humans. When Wisdom guides us, we are not just benefiting personally.
What then does the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity offer us about the Holy Trinity itself?
First, there is a unity despite the diversity of the persons of the Godhead. A Christian community that professes belief in the Triune God has no option but to truly live the Trinitarian life. Unity should mark our way of life.
Secondly, it is not enough knowing about the Trinity. It is also not enough knowing that Wisdom is God himself, being shown the way, and walking the way. What suffices is that your act of walking the way shown by Wisdom should impact those you live with.
In the final analysis, Wisdom is Jesus', the second person of the Trinity. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
Pax et Bonum
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