The Sunday after Pentecost is known as Trinity Sunday. Most preachers find it difficult talking about the Triune God. The reality is so great and so mysterious, that we prefer not to tamper with the idea. Yet this is the most central aspect of our faith. Without it, our faith is nothing.

Jesus says “all what I have taught you comes from the father”. The Father and I are one”. The Father says “This is my beloved son in whom I am pleased listen to Him” Mk 1: 11. It is clear that there is that deep relationship of love between Father and Son. A relationship around which everything depends on. Our relationship with God is held by that. “Just as the Father has loved you so I love you,” “Remain in my love”. “Love one another as I have loved you”. We are able to love because God loved us first.

The Father loves the son infinitely. The son accepts and receives this love. The love between the two is the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit of truth will teach you how to love. Our God is one of a relational life. He holds us; we are loveable and are loved infinitely by Him. We are graciously invited to be part of this in our life. Love comes from God who is a community of love sharing in the Triune God.

1. Human Family

Recently I was in the Ferry crossing from Likoni to Mombasa Island. I saw this Muslim mother holding a baby; she kept kissing the baby on the mouth and staring at her. I said to myself, really and truly it is so beautiful how we are fed by a mother’s love even before we know who we are. The baby was calm and looked very content even though she didn’t express it by words.

The normal source of love for us humans is the family. In normal situations father and mother’s love brings about a child. In Christian sense the love of the two must be enhanced and nourished, it is the nearest human image of the Trinity. We say the family is the “Small Church” where we learn love in the first place because we are taken as loveable. That is why it should be permanent commitment of love. Love that includes sacrifice for one another. Love that extends to children and neighbours appropriately. It is beautiful to see two people who love one another towards family commitment and in family commitment.

The most loving man is Jesus. He was not married but He has all around ability to love all. Think of the way He loved Peter and the first disciples – “Come I will make you fishers of men.” Think of the way he loved the adulterous woman Jn 8:1. Jn:4:1 The Samaritan woman, the two Sisters – Martha and Mary. His love is affirming, forgiving and life-giving. Love that does not require kickbacks. “I do this to you, I expect this from you.” This is a share of Divine, Triune and celibate love. Committed celibacy is a real way of sharing God’s own love with His people. Particularly for Priests and Religious is it a reminder that God is bigger and more loving than family member’s love or anybody else. We all look to Him for the strength to love others as he does.

The Catholic Church believes in committed celibacy as a witness of love – our Lord being our example and strength. Celibacy for Priests conform them in a special way to Jesus the Highest Priest. For Religious it is symbol of God’s love which will continue to the next world. Celibacy for the kingdom of God asks us for personal sacrifice to be achieved only through prayer, self-awareness and acceptance as sexual person and respect of others especially those of the complementing sex.