The Trinitarian Doctrine is a Doctrine of New Beginnings

"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting." - John 3:16 (Douay-Rheims version)
My reflection for Trinity Sunday:  The Sunday reading for today is Matthew 28:16-20.  It talks about the commissioning of the disciples to go and baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  It speaks to us about the nature of the One True God (as opposed to the multiplicity of gods in paganism).  We know that the nature of the Godhead is beyond our reach but somehow Christ revealed to us a profound knowledge of who God is.  The Trinity is a doctrine hard to explain but is apprehended only by faith.  It can be summed up in one concrete idea = that Love is the operating principle of the Godhead.  Just as God is love so we too must grow in love.  For this Sunday however I would like to dwell on God's love.  There is one very important verse, or in fact the most often quoted verse in the Bible -John 3:16.  I kind of like the idea brought out by Matthew Henry's concise concordance to the Bible, reading John 3:16 in context Henry said that the story of Nicodemus is a story of new beginnings.  It demonstrates to us the mercy that accompanies the love of God.  Nicodemus was fearful of the Jews that is why he approached Jesus at night to avoid the prying eyes of the fanatical Jews who hated the teachings of Christ.  Some people might think that it is cowardice to hide in the cover of the night.  Perhaps some people would condemn Nicodemus for cowardice.  But Jesus never condemn him in fact Jesus conversed with him and spoke to him tenderly, expounding to him the truths of God.  This is incident in the Bible explains to us the nature of love.  The love of God welcomes new beginnings and it always open to new beginnings.  I am sad that today many religious people out of zeal or fanaticism are quick to condemn and to judge.  I often encounter situations like this in church.  Often the one who pray the longest is the one who is harsh towards the misgivings of others.  There are many Nicodemuses today, the question is how do we deal with them.  Do we drive them away by our indifference or prejudice?  Or do we think of some positive ways to open up to them the love of God and discover the new beginning?  May this Sunday bring us to the realization and to the experience of God's animating love in the midst of confusion, hatred and wrongdoing. This is the year of Mercy, a jubilee. Amen.