St. Hilary, Following the Trinity’s Self-Giving Love – Jan 13 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 13, 2026, where he honors St. Hilary, emphasizing the Trinity not as abstract doctrine but as a way of life, calling Christians to self-giving love, contrasting a Trinitarian culture of life with a selfish culture of death.

In his homily, Father celebrates St. Hilary of Poitiers, a Church Father born in 310 who defended Christ's divinity and the Trinity amid early controversies. He explains that the Trinity—one God in three persons defined by eternal relationships of total self-giving—models how we should live. We're made in God's image, so true fulfillment comes from embracing others fully, not selfishness. Father contrasts this with a "culture of death" that eliminates the vulnerable like the elderly, sick, unborn, or unwanted spouses, to hoard resources, leading to self-destruction and loneliness like hell. Through baptism, we receive power to live Trinitarian love with family, neighbors, and the needy, building a culture of life where giving leads to gaining everything.

The Mystery of the Trinity - CCC 232-248 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p2.htm#232
Image of God - Humanity's Trinitarian likeness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p6.htm#355
Baptism and Trinity - Initiated into divine life - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1213
Genesis 1:26 - Created in God's image - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1?26
John 1:1 - Word with God eternally - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?1
John 15:12 - Love one another command - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?12
St. Hilary of Poitiers - Doctor defending Trinity - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-hilary-of-poitiers/

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Hilary of Poitiers - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=55
Readings: Tuesday 1st Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011326.cfm
1st: 1sa 1:9-20
Resp: 1sa 2:1, 4-8
Gsp: mar 1:21-28

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1014&r=1566

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