A lesson in subsidiarity from the Trinity

One of the buzzwords of the Church since the Second Vatican Council has been subsidiarity. 

The principal of subsidiarity is simple: you make decisions at a level as close as you can to those who will be affected by them. In local terms, you don’t make a decision in Rome that could be made in Broome, or in Broome that could be made at Balgo. The decision making, therefore, is more inclusive and empowering, and any decisions that result are far more likely to be owned by all parties. Subsidiarity builds people up and contributes to community. However, there is a catch: subsidiarity stands or falls on communication. Just as people at the grass roots bemoan that decisions about their future are made a long way from them, people in authority are often concerned that they are ultimately responsible for actions they may know nothing about.  

When the Church is working well, decisions are made at the lowest possible level, there is a mutual trust that the interests of all are being safeguarded, and there is good communication. In other words, we are functional. This situation, codified in the Church, is valid for human organisations. Where there is trust, care, and good communication, functionality will follow.

We see this modelled for us in faith in the Trinity, which is God in relationship with God self and then us, the created world. God’s communication is perfect, and the roles of each member of the Trinity are unambiguous. The Trinity reaches into our world through the person of Jesus and the mission of the Holy Spirit.

St Augustine, writing about the year 400, described the relationship of the Trinity within itself as the ‘mutual love theory’. God relates inside the Trinity through love; the love of the Trinity breathes forth the Son into the world; the Son dwells among us and is raised to new life by the love of the Father; the Son returns back to the Father and then the Spirit is sent (spirated) to the world. In short, the Trinity is love, its relationship is love and its language is love.

God reaches into our world and allows us to make decisions which impact the future of not only our own lives, but the lives of many around us and indeed, the future of our planet. It is a great act of subsidiarity. God trusts us and gives us free will, even though he knows that in our humanness we will make mistakes and frustrate his perfect plan. God allows and invites us opt be part of his wonderful plan for creation. God believes in us and encourages us, through the Church, to be in perfect relationship with the Blessed Trinity in their work of creation and sanctification.

The mission of the Trinity is to empower us, God’s people, to live in the grace of God, to allow ourselves to be drawn into God’s life and love, and to share that with the world around us.  May God find in us willing and worthy co operators. 

Homily Trinity Sunday Year C 26th May 2013