TRINITY SUNDAY CYCLE A 2011
Today, the Church liturgically celebrates the CLIMATIC mystery of Revelation known as the TRINITY. In this Mystery we believe that in One God, there are 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who each possess in themselves a separate task to perform, but at the same time each share the same MIND and WILL to accomplish ALL in the end.
The church says this doctrine could only be known because God chose to reveal it to us. And with its DEPTH, it is hard to COMPREHEND and therefore is a matter of deep faith. What we can know in this mystery revealed to us over the long haul and through many different biblical events, is the ESSENCE of the Trinity, which is UNITY, LOVE and FAMILY.
Now on this same day, though its’ NOT an official celebration of the Church, we have the important SOCIETAL celebration of FATHERS DAY. This day honoring FATHERHOOD, PATERNAL BONDS and the INFLUENCE of fathers, though, is not far from the mind of the church.
Normally the LITURGICAL task for the church today, might be to explain the mystery of the Trinity by using Scripture and theological reasoning. Yet, considering the timeliness of having both celebrations on the same day, it PASTORALLY gives the church a chance to show us that those qualities of ‘Unity, Love and Family’, which again is the ESSENCE of the Trinity, were intended by God to become the Essence of every person, but especially NOTED to be ingrained in our EARTHLY and SPIRITUAL Fathers (and technically mothers and families as well).
Our first reading describes for us how the Israelites were under the influence of the TRINITY, even though they did not know it. Exodus describes the EXIT of the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt under the leadership of Moses whom God appointed to deliver His Paternal care.
The verses read today describe Moses’ second meeting with Yahweh (God) on Mount Sinai. Yahweh had told him to come there again so that he would rewrite the ten commandments on two new tablets of stone. Moses had earlier come down from Sinai to find the people indulging in idolatry, and had broken the first stone tablets on which Yahweh had written the commandments (Ex. 32:19). Exodus lays before us the cold hard fact that the Israelite People had a shallow attachment to the God who saved them. Despite their fickle commitment, their TRUE God still continued to show them HIS mercy.
Today we see Moses pleading with the Lord of Lords to take back His people. Through Moses efforts the Israelites were able see themselves as GOD’S CHILDREN and to come to understand that this LOVE, God continually showed them, had a TRUE PATERNAL interest. They began to understand their God treated them the same way they loved and admonished their own children.
They also noticed at the same time, as they grew in this LOVE, MERCY and INTEREST of this Paternal God, they felt… INSPIRED to keep His commands to lead good lives, perform good works and be steadfast in their worship of Him. It is stories like these that form the basis for the EVENTUAL, FULL revelation of the mystery of the Trinity.
The Gospel is another of many verses that underlie the concept of One God, but three persons. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in this text from St. John’s gospel, the text is included in the readings for the feast of, the Blessed Trinity because two of the Persons are mentioned. They are clearly distinguished one from the other, yet both are the one God. God the Father sent God the Son into the world (in human nature) in order to bring eternal life within the reach of all men.
In the three verses which are the conclusion of St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, which was written from Ephesus during his 3rd missionary journey, Paul in his own Paternal care, had much ADVICE, CORRECTION and PRAISE to give them. In these last verses he repeats his appeal for SPIRITUAL UNITY and FRATERNAL CHARITY. And then he wishes the blessing of the Holy Trinity upon them, which shows that by 55AD, the belief in the TRINITY was being developed and used.
Yes, Scripture reveals the Trinity, but also in the Paternal Mind of the Church, this is a GREAT day to honor Fathers (Temporal and Spiritual) for their contributions to REVEAL God and to CARE for His Families.
So we can say ‘THANKS’ to all Fathers who knowingly or maybe Unknowingly followed the call to live out the ESSENCE of God in their human lives and duties. Say thanks to the Earthly or Spiritual Father in your life who Created you and then gave their best effort to Love, nourish, guide, admonish and then INSPIRE you to stay connected to the great family of love, where you too continue this legacy of Divine presence especially in imitation of the SON, the one who came to serve and save.
Indeed, any day is a happy day when God (Father-Son & Spirit) is revealed. But today, yes today take time to dwell on the mystery of the Holy Trinity and REVEL in the joy and task of being a Father. And remember the job isn’t done till the ‘Fat Lady Sings’, but know she hasn’t sung yet.
From the very beginning the ‘TRINITY’ has put it’s stamp upon creation. A ‘glimps’ of the beauty of the Trinity intended for us was at the creation of Man. God said, ‘Let us make man in OUR (OUR) IMAGE, after OUR…LIKENESS. He created them male and female.” So the essence of God (Love-Unity and Family) was intended for each of us, to be especially visual in the oneness of Man and Woman…who then in their love brought children into the world, not only in their image, but again in God’s image.
It was our first Earthly father in Adam that much of what we had became distorted and hard to understand. For Adam had lead his family into sin. He failed to show the love God in the Trinity intended.
Therefore in God’s plan came the purpose to Redeem Mankind to restore the transcendent beauty of the TRINITY into our lives again. So He sent his son to redeem us and toward that end, establish His Church. The church is the Bride of Christ, but it is also a Family. This Church Family mirrors the Trinity (ie the Family of God). And with God’s SPIRIT, it is God’s Family here on earth. So, lead by our Spiritual Fathers, each domestic family is given constant encouragement (Word) and the gifts of life (Sacraments), to bring us God’s Paternal Care. (So tell Fr. Merlin and Monsignor Happy Fathers Day)
And for our earthly Fathers as well, ‘Thank’ them for the Material Blessings God has bestowed on you through them. Yet most of all, thank them for their best efforts to Love, nourish, guide, admonish and keep you close to , not lead you away from, the one family in God…the Trinity.
And for those Fathers passed on, take time to remember them in prayer. Happy Fathers day on the most blessed day of the Holy Trinity.
This means, that as we honor any of our Fathers, we just might be able to accord them a little HIGHER respect and honor, because they did what really matters; they too in their human ROLES and ACTIONS, revealed God, they revealed the Trinity (Father-Son and Spirit) to us.
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