The Trinity

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May 27, 2018

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40, Psalm 33; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

I recently taught a class to adults on the nature of the Holy Trinity and we concluded the only way to sum up the Trinity is to call it a mystery. As we tried to explain it, we fell into the heresies of partialism, that says that each person of the Trinity is only part of the wholeness of God, and modalism, that says parts of the Trinity express particular ways of being God. After a while, we sat there silent because we could not come up with a suitable analogy.

Our only conclusion was to say that the Trinitarian God is one and is in a loving relationship with us. It seems to follow that if God is one, and that we are to be imitators of God, then we need to strive to be one, and that is easier said than done. As I listen to people’s prayer concerns, I hear three areas where people are looking for better integration and for greater reconciliation.

First, people yearn for a better relationship with God. Many people say that their prayer is unsatisfying and they long for something more meaningful. God seems to be remote, too big, or not very talkative, and the person of prayer does not know how to listen to God. People do not think they have to develop a maturing relationship with God because God knows everything about them. The beauty is in the process of discovering new aspects of the friendship that is filled with truth and mystery.

Second, people yearn for healed, reconciled relationships with others. It is a rare family that does not have an estranged member or two. Add to that mix that member of political tribes cannot comfortably converse, that traditionalist believers will not interact with social justice Catholics, and so on. We live in fractured existences and we keep groups of people contained and set apart from others. The solution, though, is to integrate the disparate groups and to uncover what we have in common, so we can work towards the common good.

            Third, we seek wholeness for ourselves because we have been split into many selves along the journey of life. A gift of prayer, especially the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, is to have one’s self restored as a gift to be honored and revered. Retreatants conclude the prayer process in profound gratitude because their true selves have been given back to them. Each part of their life has been reintegrated and reconciled, and they can begin to see and love the world in the way God sees and loves the world.

            We want to become one with ourselves once again, one with loved ones, especially the estranged and those who have hurt us, and one with God. I, as priest, want to do whatever I can to bring each person to this wholeness so that each person can enjoy the very close mystery of God and the beauty of the human race. The Trinity gives us an example of living in unity as one. This reconciliation is achievable. It is within your grasp and God wants this for you because you are lovable. Is it time to step forward on this journey?

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (1 Peter 1) Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.

Tuesday: (1 Peter 1) gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.

Wednesday: (1 Peter 1) Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another intensely from a pure heart. You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God.

Thursday: (Zephaniah 3) O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.

Friday (1 Peter 1) The end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and sober-minded so that you will be able to pray. Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Saturday (Jude 17) Build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads to eternal life.

Gospel: 

Monday: (Mark 10) "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments.”

Tuesday: (Mark 10) " Jesus said, "Amen, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.

Wednesday (Mark 10) Jesus said to them, "The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared."

Thursday (Luke 1) Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”

Friday (Mark 11) Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions."

Saturday (Mark 11) "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

Saints of the Week

May 27: Augustine of Canterbury, bishop (d. 604) was sent to England with 40 monks from St. Andrew's monastery to evangelize the pagans. They were well-received. Augustine was made bishop, established a hierarchy, and changed many pagans feasts to religious ones. Wales did not accept the mission; Scotland took St. Andrew's cross as their national symbol. Augustine began a Benedictine monastery at Canterbury and was Canterbury's first archbishop.

May 31: Visitation of the Virgin Mary commemorates the visit of Mary in her early pregnancy to Mary, who is reported to be her elder cousin. Luke writes about the shared rejoicing of the two women - Mary's conception by the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth's surprising pregnancy in her advanced years. Elizabeth calls Mary blessed and Mary sings her song of praise to God, the Magnificat.

June 1: Justin, martyr (100-165), was a Samaritan philosopher who converted to Christianity and explained doctrine through philosophical treatises. His debating opponent reported him to the Roman authorities who tried him and when he refused to sacrifice to the gods, was condemned to death.

June 2: Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs (d. 304) died in Rome during the Diocletian persecution. Peter was an exorcist who ministered under the well-regarded priest, Marcellinus. Stories are told that in jail they converted their jailer and his family. These men are remembered in Eucharistic prayer I.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      May 27, 1555. The Viceroy of India sent an embassy to Claudius, Emperor of Ethiopia, hoping to win him and his subjects over to Catholic unity. Nothing came of this venture, but Fr. Goncalvo de Silveira, who would become the Society's first martyr on the Africa soil, remained in the country.

·      May 28, 1962. The death of Bernard Hubbard famous Alaskan missionary. He was the author of the book Mush, You Malemutes! and wrote a number of articles on the Alaska mission.

·      May 29,1991. Pope John Paul II announces that Paulo Dezza, SJ is to become a Cardinal, as well as Jan Korec, in Slovakia.

·      May 30, 1849. Vincent Gioberti's book Il Gesuita Moderno was put on the Index. Gioberti had applied to be admitted into the Society, and on being refused became its bitter enemy and calumniator.

·      May 31, 1900. The new novitiate of the Buffalo Mission, St Stanislaus, in South Brooklyn, Ohio, near Cleveland, is blessed.

·      Jun 1, 1527. Ignatius was thrown into prison after having been accused of having advised two noblewomen to undertake a pilgrimage, on foot, to Compostella.

·      Jun 2, 1566. The Professed House was opened in Toledo. It became well known for the fervor of its residents and the wonderful effects of their labors.