Homily of His Excellency Msgr Selim Sfeir Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, Sunday of the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28/16-20)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, a week after Pentecost when we received the gift of the Spirit, the Church invites us to meditate on the great mystery of the Trinity, a mystery like all typically Christian mysteries, inaccessible to our human intelligences.
And yet this mystery is one that responds to one of humanity's deepest expectations: unity in love, or love in unity. Love is the source and foundation of all true unity. Jesus himself will make this understood, testifying to his disciples that the very nature of God's being is love.
The disciples follow Jesus' instructions and go to Galilee and the mountain. This term indicates and reminds us of all the Theophanies that took place there. An emblematic place that speaks of the divine presence, Jesus gave them an appointment in a place where the presence of God is an evidence. The disciples knew this well, for they knew by heart the events of Old Testament history. Of course, on the mountain where the Theophany took place, the disciples saw Jesus and bowed down before him. Had they forgotten the commandment, God is Lord, you shall have no other God but him, and you shall bow down to no other God? If they prostrated themselves before Jesus, it was because they recognized in him God. But perhaps some of them, hindered by their Jewish faith, could not help but doubt? At first glance, this seems disconcerting, but on closer examination, it is very consoling for us, who are going through moments of doubt.
Yes, we call ourselves disciples of the 21st century, and so we are. If we go through moments of doubt, the disciples, in the presence of Jesus, went through doubts. But Jesus is not going to dwell on the doubts of some of his disciples; if he has gathered them together, it is for a much more important task.
Jesus draws near. What joy for us today, going through moments of doubt, to see that Jesus draws even closer to us. While we know that those closest to us, in moments of doubt, are ready to let us go, and act as if they don't know us. Jesus gets close and talks to them. Many of our friends, in difficult times, don't even speak to us. Jesus sees in them beloved disciples, not people who doubt, and he never distances himself from them.
Jesus does not wait for doubts to fade. At the moment of doubt, and despite the doubt, he charges them with his mission: "All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth...". Through Jesus, the disciples are sent out to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I have commanded you. And most importantly, Jesus reassures them: "And behold, I will be with you all the days, until the end of the age".
Our mission is the same: let's look to Jesus and remember that we are sent to teach, baptize and make disciples, in the name and power of the Holy Trinity, until the end of time. Let us live up to the trust that Jesus continues to place in us.
Prayer
Lord, you who are Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may we today recognize the love with which you have loved us, welcome this love to live by it and spread it around us.
Lord, make us apostles!
† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus