A love that keeps on giving

The brief text from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians in this Sunday’s second reading ends with the greeting with which we begin many liturgies. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:13). This Sunday’s celebration of the Most Holy Trinity reminds us of the gifts of our triune God, namely, grace, love and community.  All three of this Sunday’s readings witness to the nature of this most holy presence, which defines the character of these gifts.  

This Sunday’s first reading recounts Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai as he receives the two tablets on which are written covenant law. Yet God seems not so concerned with these regulations but rather with revealing to Moses how God intends to relate to this community. Moses’ encounter reveals God as “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity” (Ex 34:6). Compared to other ancient gods, whose goodness toward humanity often was conditional, this distinct revelation suggests a very different kind of deity.  Moses experiences a God who extends mercy even when human disobedience dominates. Further, this is a God who offers kindness and fidelity even when human fidelity fails. Despite the fear and trembling that deities of the ancient Near East could trigger, this unprecedented revelation enabled Moses to dare to request that God accompany the people even though Moses knew of their tendency to be sinful. Further, the revelation also gave Moses enough confidence to request something even more relational and intimate, namely that God “receive us as your own.” (Ex 34:9). 

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul encourages caring behavior among the sisters and brothers based upon his understanding of God. Marginalization and persecution of Christians was a tremendous threat to these new converts. Paul’s theology of God lifts up two very compelling features at a time when this new community faced a hostile environment. He perceives that care and encouragement are both things that make available the experience of divine care. Confident in the nature of God revealed in Jesus, Paul assures his listeners of a God whose love and peace will be with them during those tumultuous days.    

Finally, in this Sunday’s brief text from John’s Gospel, Jesus revealed God’s motivation. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (Jn 3:16). Across these brief readings from Exodus, 2 Corinthians, and John’s Gospel, an elaborate but consistent depiction emerges of our God as merciful, faithful, unconcerned with retribution, a source of peace, slow to anger, abundantly kind, and desiring to be in communion with us. John’s writing sums it up. In all of these attributes, it is love that motivates our God, is the very nature of our God. 

This is a kind of love unknown to humanity, a type of love that is difficult to grasp. It is an unconditional love, one that doesn’t abandon or quit. This love has eternal staying power. There are no strings attached to it. Jesus is the expression of this divine love and becomes the point of departure for our understanding of Trinity. 

In his incarnate state, Jesus discloses a compassion, kinship and love for all humanity, which at the same time reveals the nature of God, whom he calls Father. In his resurrected state, Jesus promises always to be with us. Though he ascends to the Father, the divine Spirit descends to us, fulfilling that promise of presence. Thus, the incomparable greatness and character of the Trinity is what Catholic theologian Elizabeth Johnson insightfully calls self-giving love, a community of self-giving love of Father, Son and Spirit. This love is not exclusive but is a community to which we are invited. And so may “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:13). Amen.