Dear Folks,

This is the Feast of the Holy Trinity.  Some people gloss over this doctrine like they are checking a box, but this truth has such treasures. In the first century, the big argument was whether we were called to works of the Law of Moses or faithfulness to Jesus. The next several centuries the big arguments were about who and what Jesus is and the nature of the Trinity.

The Father is eternally giving Himself to the Son, who is eternally receiving and returning that love. The love that passes between them is the Holy Spirit. God Himself is already the perfect community of love and so has no need for creation. However, love is by nature fruitful, so God created the universe (including us) out of love.  Christianity teaches that the whole universe is a love story.   

The fullness of being alive is to receive love and give ourselves in love. We often, being human, get distracted by other things, but Jesus teaches us how to receive His gift of Himself, and how to give ourselves in return. That is all of Christian practice.  

Consider what Jesus said: “I pray not only on behalf of these, but also for those who through their word will come to believe in me. May they all be one, as you Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have gave me I have given to them, so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, that thus the world may know that you have sent me. Father, allow those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may behold my glory, which you have bestowed on my because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:20-24).” We are called to be drawn into that community of love that is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

I suggest that a good thing to do on the Solemnity of the Trinity would be to read Jesus’ farewell discourse (John 14-16) and great priestly prayer (John 17). Jesus said it much better than I could. 

Blessings,

Fr. Jim