for Trinity Sunday
Another fifty years anniversary – this time it is for St. Mary’s School – all sorts of school kinds of activities – a banquet on Friday night – on Saturday – this morning – I am preparing myself for a Nun Run – I think it is just an ordinary mile long race – St. Mary’s School has always had Sisters of St. Joseph – this first faculty – fifty years ago – it was all Sisters – now, only one – our principal, Sister Sharon – I am not certain if the retired Sisters who have come back for the celebration will be leading the Run – but you never can tell – I’ll let you know later. The celebration will also have a special Mass on Sunday – and the students will be taking care of all of the ministries.
Trinity Sunday is a difficult Sunday to preach – the danger is that you could spend most of the homily, trying to teach about the mystery of the Trinity – there is some teaching demanded, I know – but what can you say definitively about the Trinity – so I am still trying to decide what I will say this weekend.
As Christians, we believe in one God – one God that is triune – there in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Trinity is about Community – Trinity is about Family – our God comes to us as community – and our God comes to us as love – love that can be felt at every level. When we experience love it changes us as persons – and it changes how we see reality. Trinity is about love – we are loved people – our God loves us unconditionally.
The Old Testament reading for Trinity Sunday sees things from the point of view of Moses – it gives evidence of the uniqueness of God’s relationship to his people, one that no other God can ever have. Moses discovers God in the burning bush – Moses brings this God – this personal, loving God – to bring the Hebrew people out of slavery – through the Exodus. The Christian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is the same one God who chose the Israelite people to be his own, cared for them (and us) even before creation – and preserved them from the Egyptians.
In the Gospel for Trinity Sunday, Jesus instructs the apostles before the Ascension – “All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit – teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Then Jesus ends his instructions with this, “And behold I am with you always, until the end of the age.” I think that I will focus my homily on this statement – Jesus tells the apostles and us that he will be with us always – until the end of time.
I remember well a high school student who asked my advice – she was going to a wake for the mother of her friend – and she asked what should I say – the answer, of course, was nothing – the important thing was to be there, with her friend – we care for someone who is suffering, just by being present – this provides that person with a steady companionship – to know that there is someone there who cares, makes a world of difference – it saves that person from the feeling of being abandoned.
Remember – Jesus says, “Trust in me. I’ll be with you always.” Jesus didn’t guarantee a trouble free life – or – even success – the apostles knew that as long as Jesus was with them – they would have the courage and strength to face whatever difficulties lay ahead – God’s closeness shields us against a sense of abandonment and despair.
God is always with us – but we are not always with God – our busy lives cause us to get disconnected from God. So we must deliberately cultivate a sense of the presence of God and nourish it through prayer.
Finally, when we are with God – we are with one another.
Each time we begin prayer with the Sign of the Cross – we are remembering God – we are asking God to be with us – we are calling to mind the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – to transform my life – fill me with your love – touch me with your peace – guide me in your love. May I never forget that you have promised to always be with me – and so I am not afraid – I will never be abandoned – you are my God. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
I invite you to look in on our parish website at http://www.smsh.org/
Another fifty years anniversary – this time it is for St. Mary’s School – all sorts of school kinds of activities – a banquet on Friday night – on Saturday – this morning – I am preparing myself for a Nun Run – I think it is just an ordinary mile long race – St. Mary’s School has always had Sisters of St. Joseph – this first faculty – fifty years ago – it was all Sisters – now, only one – our principal, Sister Sharon – I am not certain if the retired Sisters who have come back for the celebration will be leading the Run – but you never can tell – I’ll let you know later. The celebration will also have a special Mass on Sunday – and the students will be taking care of all of the ministries.
Trinity Sunday is a difficult Sunday to preach – the danger is that you could spend most of the homily, trying to teach about the mystery of the Trinity – there is some teaching demanded, I know – but what can you say definitively about the Trinity – so I am still trying to decide what I will say this weekend.
As Christians, we believe in one God – one God that is triune – there in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Trinity is about Community – Trinity is about Family – our God comes to us as community – and our God comes to us as love – love that can be felt at every level. When we experience love it changes us as persons – and it changes how we see reality. Trinity is about love – we are loved people – our God loves us unconditionally.
The Old Testament reading for Trinity Sunday sees things from the point of view of Moses – it gives evidence of the uniqueness of God’s relationship to his people, one that no other God can ever have. Moses discovers God in the burning bush – Moses brings this God – this personal, loving God – to bring the Hebrew people out of slavery – through the Exodus. The Christian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is the same one God who chose the Israelite people to be his own, cared for them (and us) even before creation – and preserved them from the Egyptians.
In the Gospel for Trinity Sunday, Jesus instructs the apostles before the Ascension – “All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit – teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Then Jesus ends his instructions with this, “And behold I am with you always, until the end of the age.” I think that I will focus my homily on this statement – Jesus tells the apostles and us that he will be with us always – until the end of time.
I remember well a high school student who asked my advice – she was going to a wake for the mother of her friend – and she asked what should I say – the answer, of course, was nothing – the important thing was to be there, with her friend – we care for someone who is suffering, just by being present – this provides that person with a steady companionship – to know that there is someone there who cares, makes a world of difference – it saves that person from the feeling of being abandoned.
Remember – Jesus says, “Trust in me. I’ll be with you always.” Jesus didn’t guarantee a trouble free life – or – even success – the apostles knew that as long as Jesus was with them – they would have the courage and strength to face whatever difficulties lay ahead – God’s closeness shields us against a sense of abandonment and despair.
God is always with us – but we are not always with God – our busy lives cause us to get disconnected from God. So we must deliberately cultivate a sense of the presence of God and nourish it through prayer.
Finally, when we are with God – we are with one another.
Each time we begin prayer with the Sign of the Cross – we are remembering God – we are asking God to be with us – we are calling to mind the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – to transform my life – fill me with your love – touch me with your peace – guide me in your love. May I never forget that you have promised to always be with me – and so I am not afraid – I will never be abandoned – you are my God. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
I invite you to look in on our parish website at http://www.smsh.org/
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