May 30, 2010

Proverbs 8:22-31

Romans 5:1-5

John 16:12-15

Some of you are old enough to remember when the bishop came for Confirmation he would come down into the center aisle and ask questions to see how well prepared we were.  This is a true story of Bishop Dunn. 

 “Who can tell me about the Trinity?” inquired Dunn.   A young boy raised his hand and stood to answer.  “The Trinity is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Three, equal person, but one God.” He responded as he had well memorized the answer in preparation for this day.

 The bishop inquired further.  “But young man, I do not understand.”  

 “You aren’t supposed to.  It’s a mystery!”  Replied the boy much to the congregation’s delight and amazement.  The bishop was speechless.

 Now I am supposed to “explain” this mystery to you in 9 minutes. 

When each of us was baptized, we were baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”   Indeed, the Trinitarian nature of Baptism is so fundamental, that if some Christian sect does not use it, we Catholics question the validity of the Baptism.

Be attentive to liturgical prayer.  Almost all liturgy is directed TO the Father, THROUGH the Son BY the power of the Holy Spirit.

 We begin almost every liturgy with “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  The mystery of the Trinity is our origin and the very root of our spiritual life.   We are so grounded in the Trinity that we begin to feel comfortable with this profound MYSTERY of unity.    One God, three distinct persons, different but equal.   It is all about relationship.  We are created in the image of this God. 

Jesus never talked directly or theologically about the Trinity.   He taught with parables.  He taught by example.  He offered us an encounter with the Triune God rather than teachings about God. 

 Today’s gospel is from the John’s narration of the Last Supper.  Jesus taught by example.  He knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples.  Jesus taught by parable.  He took bread, blest and broke it, saying “this is ME, this is my Body, this is who I am.  Nourish yourself with my very life”.  Jesus offered us an encounter.   At the end of the night, he gave himself up to be sacrificed on the cross. 

 Notice, it is all about relationship.  Jesus is here for others, and calls us to be the same.   The concept of Trinity is that Father-Son-Holy Spirit are in relationship to each other.  That is the very nature of who God is.  We are made in the image and likeness of God.  We are created for relationship with God, and with one another, and with our world. 

Rev. Ev Hemann

 RevEv@SaintPatrickcf.org