Reading I:
EX 34: 4B-6, 8-9
Response: DN 3:52-56
Reading II:
2 COR 13:11-13
Gospel: JN 3:16-18
Since the whole concept of
The Holy Trinity is really not within our total grasp, we need to just look at the hints of the possibility of the Trinity to help us at least with some little comprehension of the reality.
Just as we cannot look directly into the sun without some protection, we cannot fully understand the Trinity in this life. However, there are things all around us to give us an inkling of what it must be like. We have the shamrock three in one which St. Patrick used to help people to understand. We have one person with three identities: wife, mother, grandmother. Then perhaps, one of the closest reflections is the man and woman in love who produce a child.
The reason that I am calling the conception of a child one of the closest resemblances to the Trinity is that mutual sharing of love is the reality of the Holy Trinity. That is also what we hope to experience in heaven.
Although, while here, we cannot fully grasp the concept, we believe it because Jesus referred to it many times, and we trust in Him. He said that He and the Father are one. He commissions his disciples to go “...to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (John 28:19-20)
The symbol of the Trinity above reminded me of a beautiful paper weight that I once treasured. It was cut like a large diamond. As
I would move it about, the light reflected a variety of gorgeous colors.
It always reminded me of the infinite glorious aspects of our one true God. We are so blessed to have such a magnificent loving God. What joy we can anticipate as the veil is lifted from our eyes in heaven and we can see our God clearly in all His glory.
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Santísima Trinidad
Así como no podemos mirar directamente al sol sin alguna protección, no podemos entender completamente la Trinidad en esta vida. Sin embargo, hay cosas alrededor de nosotros para darnos una idea de lo que debe ser. Tenemos el trébol tres en uno que St. Patrick solía ayudar a la gente a entender. Tenemos una persona con tres identidades: esposa, madre, abuela. Entonces, tal vez, una de las reflexiones más cercanas es el hombre y la mujer en el amor que producen un niño.
La razón por la que estoy llamando a la concepción de un niño
una de las semejanzas más cercanas a la Trinidad es que la mutua participación del amor es la realidad de la Santísima Trinidad. Eso es también lo que esperamos experimentar en el cielo.
Aunque, mientras que aquí, no podemos entender completamente el concepto, lo creemos porque Jesús se refirió a él muchas veces, y confiamos en Él. Él dijo que Él y el Padre son uno. Él ordena a sus discípulos a ir “... a todos los pueblos de todas partes y hacerlos mis discípulos: bautizadlos en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo y enséñales a obedecer todo lo que Yo os he mandado. Y yo estaré con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo.” (Juan 28: 19-20)
El símbolo de la Trinidad arriba me recordó un hermoso Peso de papel que una vez atesorado. Se cortó como un diamante grande. Como yo lo movería alrededor, la luz reflejaba una variedad de colores magníficos. Siempre me recordaba los infinitos aspectos gloriosos de nuestro único Dios verdadero. Somos tan bendecidos por tener un Dios tan magnífico y amoroso. Qué alegría podemos anticipar cuando el velo es levantado de nuestros ojos en el cielo y podemos ver a nuestro Dios claramente en toda Su gloria.
The fascinating, inspiring diagram emphasizes the glory of the mystery of the Trinity and reminds us of our ardent hope to
ReplyDeletereally understand it in heaven.
The following excerpts are from a homily by Pope Francis:
"Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. That reminds us of the mystery of one God in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is the communion of Divine Persons who are with one another, for one another, and in one another. This communion is the life of God; the mystery of love of the Living God. But who has revealed to us this mystery? Jesus. He has spoken to us of the Spirit and he has spoken to us of Himself as the Son of God. Thus, he has revealed to us this mystery; and when risen from the dead he sent his disciples to evangelize the people, telling them to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 28, 19). Christ entrusts this command to the Church which inherited from the apostles the missionary mandate. He addresses it also to each one of us, who by virtue of baptism are part of his community."
"Therefore, today's liturgical solemnity, while it makes us contemplate the wonderful mystery from which we came and toward which we go, renews in us the mission of living in communion with God and to live in communion among ourselves on the model of that communion with God. We are called to live, not without each other, over or against the other, but with one another and in one another. This means to receive and accordingly give witness to the beauty of the Gospel, to live in love mutually and toward all, sharing in joy and sufferings, learning to ask and to grant forgiveness, valuing the various charisms under the guidance of the Pastors."
"Everything, in Christian life, revolves around the mystery of the Trinity and is fulfilled in this infinite mystery. Let us look, therefore, to keep high the "tone" of our life, reminding ourselves to what end, for what glory we exist, work, struggle, suffer; and to which immense prize we are called."
Sr. Annette, I felt such warmth and comfort when I read your post comparing the relationship of the Trinity to the love that exists between a man and woman which brings forth new life. Father Robert Barron in his book, Catholicism, also speaks of the mutual sharing of familial love in the Trinity: “The Father is capable of a perfect and utterly interior act of self-othering. The mirror or Word of the Father…is the Son. When Father and Son gaze at each other, they breathe back and forth their mutual love, and this is the selfless love of God, or the Holy Spirit. Hence we have three dynamisms but not three Gods; we have a lover, a beloved, and a shared love, within the unity of one substance, not a one plus one plus one adding up to three, but a one times one times one, equaling one.” Even though the Trinity is a mystery of faith, we can comprehend that God values relationships and community based on the three-in-one dynamics of the Blessed Trinity.
ReplyDeleteI’m shifting thought here to share with your readers a discussion we had at last Sunday’s Scripture Sharing group regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit. One of the gifts, fear of the Lord, revealed some confusion amongst us about what that gift truly meant. We talked about obedience to God’s will based on fear versus behaviors motivated by love. Some of us avoid sin because we fear punishment by God while others follow God’s commands out of respect and in awe of God’s majesty with desire to please Him. Fear-based obedience is deeply rooted in many older generation Catholics I know. They savor a passionate fire and brimstone sermon and blame the condition of our current world on the church for drifting away from teaching the fundamentals of sin and hell. Such individuals tend to be pillars of the church community and I genuinely respect their beliefs.
Today’s gospel provides substance for those of us who are motivated more by love to obey the Precepts of the Lord and invites those who fear eternal damnation to reconsider God’s loving intention for His Creation. John tells us that the Father loved us so much that He gave His only Son so that we could be saved and enjoy eternal life. God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save believers. That is so amazing that we ought to be expressing joy and witnessing to God’s goodness. We will have a better chance of leading others to Christ if we are exuberant about forgiveness and eternity than if we suggest gloom and doom. Fear based behavior modification seems to contradict the gift of salvation that Jesus offers us. Additionally, we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit to support us on our pilgrimage (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord).
While I can’t begin to comprehend the depth of God’s unconditional love for us I am grateful for it. His mercy washes away my sin and calms my fears. Yes, we are blessed to have such a magnificent God. May the blessings of our Triune God be upon us and remain with us always.
Pat C., ASBS
As we move through life, we go through stages of our faith development. While studying at the Jesuit-run, Boston College, I had the privilege of having Dr. James W. Fowler as a professor. At the time he was doing an in-depth study of the stages. Later his book "Stages of Faith" was published and now can be purchased through Amazon.
ReplyDelete