Holy Trinity Sunday (HolyTrinityC), May 30, 2010
BURNING QUESTION: What is Virtue?
FEATURED BLOG: On Proper Dress for Mass
PRIESTS STORIES: Letters to Priests
PASTORAL HISPANA: La Santisima Trinidad es la Mejor Comunidad
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we celebrate the revelation that He is three persons in one God — Father, Son and Spirit. This wasn’t handed down from the mountain in tablets of stone like the Ten Commandments but it was revealed directly to us by God himself in the person of Jesus his Son. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible study sessions with your family, friends and church groups.
The inner mystery of God himself
The Trinity has always been a difficult doctrine to swallow. Some charge that we call this doctrine a mystery because we want to cover up how illogical and preposterous it is. The Triune God is not some kind of brainy speculation by scholars. Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio postulates the thinking that three equal but distinct persons in one divine being strains the brain too much to have been concocted by a bunch of theologians or politicians.As Jesus tells the disciples, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now,” Saint Louis University student Caroline Seroka reflects on how difficult it was for her to hear that said to the disciples and how much she herself does not know. Fr. John Foley, S. J. explains that it is simply the way we experience God in this world. Christian living is the Trinity in action. The Blessed Trinity is the highest model for our Christian life —three distinct persons, yet one God; each living in harmony and perfect unity with each other. Fr. Alex McAllister SDS tells us that the three persons of the Trinity have their own roles and function but there is no disunity only perfect harmony.
Faith in the Holy Trinity is revealed not to baffle us with mysterious doctrines but to show us a God who is loving and ever close to us. Fr. Orly Sapuay, M.S. says the mystery of God is His outrageous love, a love that covers all our sins and offenses. And Jesus - who has always existed as the Wisdom at the Father's side - has much more to tell us, says Fr. Phil Bloom. He alone can satisfy our desire to know - by bestowing the Spirit of truth that makes possible an eternal relation with the Trinity.
Where is the Holy Trinity in the Bible?
How about during the Baptism of the Son of God. A close reading of the Scriptures shows that the Trinity was revealed when Jesus met his cousin John the Baptist in the wilderness. While John baptizes his superior, the voice of the Father resounds over the waters: “This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests.” At that very moment, the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove.Thus, Fr. James Gilhooley adds, our own Sacrament of Baptism drops us not only into water but also into the Trinity. The Trinity in turn is delighted to take up residence in us. So, just as the triune God is in us, so too are we in the triune God.
The Way We Begin and End Our Prayers
Though we may struggle with the Holy Trinity, Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB reminds us that we nevertheless take it into our very hands each time that we mark ourselves with the sign of the cross. We begin our prayers in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We begin our prayers in the name of the Father who loves us unconditionally, and of the Son who made this love concrete by becoming one of us and dying for us and bringing God’s forgiveness to us, and the name of the Holy Spirit, who is God dwelling within us, empowering us.The sign of the cross is an affirmation of our faith, explains Fr. Joseph Pellegrino. It is a declaration of whom we are: people God loves, forgives and empowers. Fr. Campion P. Gavaler, OSB, asks us to pay special attention to what we do and pray every Sunday at Mass so that we may realize more deeply that every Sunday is Trinity Sunday. Let us reflect in the church, in our families, and in our world the communion of love, which is the true nature of God. This is the glory and the joy for which we are created.
Living a Catholic Life
Humanity is suffering from a lack of reflection and deep thought. And Pope Benedict tells us this week that evangelization has become an even more immense mission. He also stressed this week that it is the fundamental decision to pursue the common good, not the specific economic policies, that are critically important. The U.S. bishops echoed this same sentiment when they issued a statement on health care reform called "Setting the Record Straight." They said this week that their position on the matter has been "misrepresented, misunderstood and misused for political and other purposes."
We also discuss this very alarming crisis that Msgr. Charles Pope brings to our attention this week: over 40% of children are born outside of marriage in this country. It is a situation that is growing very serious and needs to be addressed in our parishes and homes. And its very likely that pornography has a big influence on this slip in morality among Americans. However, Steve Jobs offered some good news this week saying Apple Computers will not be a party to the pornography industry and hopes that the iPad and iPhone revolution will help lead to a porn-free world. Appropriately, Fr. Ron Rolheiser offers a timely and challenging question for us to ponder. How do we speak of God inside a culture that’s pathologically distracted, distrusts religious language and church institutions, and yet carries its own moral energy and virtue?
And here's an interesting discussion. How about we consider the topic of how both men and women should dress when going into God’s house? Let's explore some background issues and enunciate some principles.
Priests Stories
If you could write a letter describing how you were healed from a tragedy and heal a man two continents away, would you write the letter? Join this grassroots effort by using gratitude to heal those you may never meet. Visit the website www.letterstopriests.com and submit a letter. Anne Hughes is leading this effort.
And from the Vatican, we bring this story about one of the most impressive Eucharistic miracles. Since 1997, Franciscan Father Paolo Spring's mission related to his vocation has been to look after the miracle that is in the Basilica of St. Francis in the city of Siena. It's the miracle of 223 hosts consecrated 280 years ago, still intact in one of the basilica's side chapels.
Stories of Hope
It was a beautiful day and Susie Lloyd was out and about among the "Rocks, Leaves, Flowers, Treasure." As she paused to play in nature's playground, nature was missionary, in her violets, in her leafy boats, in her muddy rocks. God’s in his heaven. All’s right with the world.Rebecca Teti reflects on the recent spate of celebrity infidelity cases and asks what causes marriages to fail. She rejects most pop psychology explanations in favor of something much simpler. Couples just don’t spend enough time together.
And Jerome Placido talks to the young. He asks you to take a moment and imagine all the planning that had to be done to bring you into this world and understand it was not by chance that you were created.
Finally, there's a new movie out about St. Bernadette of Lourdes that fosters faith. It's the way the movie was made that caught our eye. Check out "166 Kids Make 1 Miraculous Movie."
Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.
Keep the Faith. Peace.
Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief
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