The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

-- For seventeen years of my life (from 1992-1998 and 2004-2014), I lived and ministered at the Parish of Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary in Brooklyn, New York.  The feast of the Most Holy Trinity has a special place in my heart!  

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today the Church celebrates the great feast of the Most Holy Trinity!  And so, on this “Trinity Sunday” we hear Jesus’ Gospel proclamation to “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 . . .” (see Matthew 28:19).  As evidenced by the words of Jesus in this passage, the “Trinitarian formula” has been used by Christians since the very first days of the early church.  Even so, for many it’s difficult to grasp the concept of a “Trinity–or three persons in one God.”


As I personally reflect on it, I like to recall the words of that ancient and well known Latin hymn “Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.”  The modern English rendition of this song reads “where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found.”  I also very much like the Spanish version which reads “donde hay amor y caridad, se encuentra Dios.”  In each of these languages, the words of the song speak to me, and I believe they give me some insight into the nature of the Trinity; I imagine the three persons of the Most Holy Trinity, “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” as existing in a kind of “perfect relationship” of charity and love.

The Church teaches us that the “three persons” of the Trinity “subsist in one nature” (that’s to say, there is just One God – “One God in three persons”).  As we try to contemplate the meaning of this, we might recall that the actual word “Trinity” isn’t found anywhere in the Bible (and as a side point here, we might note that the word “Bible” isn’t found in the Bible either!).  However, we believe Christians have pondered the concept of the Trinity from the earliest days of the Church. The word “Trinity” has been specifically used by theologians since at least the fourth century, and has been used in order to explain a basic Christian understanding of who God is (i.e., "One God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit”).  Based on this, and if we can then say that “the Trinity is a harmonious, charitable and loving community of persons,” how might this effect the way in which we live our daily Christian lives?

Is there no better way to live out our Trinitarian faith than for one another to be a reflection of the Trinity’s perfect example of charity and love?  I believe the one answer to both of these questions is that we are called to follow the example of the Trinity, this relationship, this “community” of charity and love, in the way that we relate to other human beings, especially those with whom we come in contact every day (i.e., our family members, our classmates, our co-workers, our clients, our neighbors, our fellow travelers on the road, and so on).  If we effectively live in harmony with others, and demonstrate charity and love in the way that we live our lives, then I believe we can very truly reflect the love of God and the “community of charity and love” that is the Trinity.

As Christian men and women, and in fellowship with one another, we are made in the image and likeness of our Trinitarian God!  We need one another in order to lead faith filled lives that are complete, life-giving and joyful (and that are characterized by the way we demonstrate charity and love for one another).  And so, on this Trinity Sunday, let us recommit ourselves to the God of charity and love, and to all of our brothers and sisters.

May we always remember our obligation to live in harmonious relationships with others and to form a perfect community of relational charity and love that truly reflects our Trinitarian God!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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The Feast of the Pentecost

My Sisters and Brothers:

     It is said that this Great Feast of the Pentecost is a commemoration of  “the birthday of the universal Christian church.”  As we begin our celebration of the Mass on this day, we pray together the following words: “O God . . . sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth . . .” (from the Collect or “Opening Prayer,” at the Mass during the day).

     With this in mind, let’s recall the account given in the Acts of the Apostles today in which we are told that people from all over the world had gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.  These scriptures tell us that “there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem” (see Acts 2:5).  Such men and women of faith, from near and far, had customarily gathered at the temple every year for the ancient Jewish Feast of the Pentecost, one of seven annual religious festivals, this one for which they would commemorate the giving of God’s law to Moses on Mount Sinai and also mark the annual beginning of the wheat harvest.

     The word “Pentecost” literally means the “fiftieth day,” and so this feast was observed fifty days after the second day of Passover.  Christians count in a similar manner, and so they observe the Feast of the Pentecost fifty days after the celebration of Easter Sunday.

     The Acts of the Apostles tell us that ten days after the Ascension of Jesus and on the Feast of Pentecost, “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs” had gathered at the temple in Jerusalem (see Acts 2:9-11).  It would not have been unusual to see a gathering of such an international and multi-lingual crowd for the Jewish Feast of the Pentecost!  The people mentioned in this account would have come from places that in the modern day include North Africa, Iran and Iraq, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Mediterranean coastal areas including Greece and Italy (as we all know, in our own time and about some of these areas, we often hear dreadful news!).  While it is most unfortunate that the Christian faith has nearly disappeared from those places since the time of the early church, the naming of peoples from those “distant lands” in the Acts of the Apostles is in fact a very significant detail.  It demonstrates clearly to us the universality of the Christian church, and that the love of the Father, the saving presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are given to all men and woman and at every time and place.

     The universal Christian church, whose “birthday” we celebrate today, is for everyone – and it’s even for people who are “different” than us!   The Christian faith, empowered by the great gift of the Holy Spirit among us, embraces all men and women!  Always and with fervor, may we continue to pray that our God will “pour out the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth.”

As we bring the fifty days of this Easter Season to a close on this Great Feast of the Pentecost, let us invoke the power of the Holy Spirit as we recall that Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen,  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Love Conquers All Fear, the Seventh Sunday of Easter

My Sisters and Brothers:

     The last words of today’s second reading are “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him [or her]” (see 1 John 4:16).  It seems to me that these words are a wonderful introduction to Jesus’ prayer to the Father as presented in today’s Gospel.  In it he pleads: “Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one . . . so that they may share my joy completely . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one . . . consecrate them in the truth” (see John 17:11b-19).  In the previous chapter of the same Gospel, Jesus had already told his disciples to have “courage.”  He said to them: “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (see John 16: 33b).

     Isn’t it precisely because we “remain” in God’s love that Jesus can assure his disciples that he has “conquered the world” and that they should have no fear?  In today’s Gospel, Jesus pleads with the same loving Father to “protect from the evil one” those whom he sends into the world.  There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus was very aware of the regular, ordinary, run-of-the-mill human weaknesses that his disciples had (and certainly we have too!).

     Jesus knows and guarantees to us that love will conquer all fear!  He prays fervently to the Father for the continued faith and strength of all of his disciples, including those of us who remain in the world today!  And of course, because we know Jesus loves us, we desire with all of our hearts to love him too!  We also have confidence that Jesus will always be with us, and that he will provide whatever strength we need to overcome any negative powers or forces we might face in our lives.  We need not fear those things that otherwise promise to threaten our peace and want to destroy our sense of being blessed.  With this in mind, we can therefore pray the same prayer of Jesus!

     We can lovingly encourage all of our sisters and brothers to have confidence that we will always have the protection of the Father.  This is especially true when we are faced with the temptations and struggles of “the world.”  And even though we understand that it won’t always be easy, we can remain sure of God’s loving presence in our lives.  It’s likely that we will sometimes fail to love others as we should, and we may give in to other temptations as well (these weaknesses are also known as “sin”), but we can be sure that even so, God is always with us!  Jesus knew well the realities of human life, and the fact that none of us are perfect, and this is why he pleaded so fervently to the Father on our behalf.

     Let us take confidence in this prayer of Jesus, and let us be sure that each one of us is “consecrated in truth.”   This desire and prayer of Jesus really is about that which enables us to love God and others at our best.  And so let us strive to live our consecration with pure love, with confidence and with joy!  May we always trust the power of our God, he who is love!

Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen,  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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The Perfect Love of Jesus, the Sixth Sunday of Easter

My Sisters and Brothers:

     In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us with the following words: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you . . . if you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love . . . love one another as I love you . . . no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (see John 15:9-13).  Doesn’t this teaching summarize the Christian understanding of “perfect love” that Jesus and the Father have for us?  In this passage, Jesus also challenges us to love God in the same way in return.  Wow, that seems like a tall order to me!

     Jesus ties this love for God to the love we show towards other people (you know: that whole thing about “love one another as I love you . . . and love your neighbor as yourself”).  If it’s a tall order to have perfect love for God, then isn’t it true that having perfect love for others is something that is very often even more difficult to accomplish?  This has certainly been my experience!

     I think we all agree that our Christian faith calls us to give of ourselves, and to love others, in imitation of Jesus . . . and we believe that he has even “laid down his life for us” (see 1 John 3:16).  While most of us will never be called to such a profound level of sacrifice for others (although police officers and firefighters come to my mind on this point!), we might ask ourselves “how much am I truly willing to give of myself, and to have love for others?”  In answer to this, I’m compelled to recall the Scripture passage that reads: “But God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (see Romans 5:8).  It seems to me that we can only begin to imitate the manner in which Jesus loves us when we commit ourselves to having the most basic kind of “respect” for all people.  Isn’t this especially poignant when we give of ourselves, and show love towards, those who are “un-loveable,” different and/or who have different values and ideas than we do?  And isn’t that actually what the Lord Jesus has done by giving his life for us?

     If we can authentically love those who are difficult to love, then it seems to me that only then will we be able to understand the demonstrable “perfect love” that Jesus and the Father have for us.  In a way then, we might say that those in our lives who are difficult to love “show us the way to the Father.”  Isn’t that ironic, but so true!   Once we figure out the whole “love one another as I love you” mandate of Jesus, then I believe we can enthusiastically take the next step which is that of committing ourselves to a life of service to others, especially to the most needy.  The service that we do for others, born out of Christian love, might be demanding, but isn’t it an obligation we must embrace?  Isn’t it also something we are called to do with generosity of heart?

     May we always be eager both to give and to receive the love of God.  May the manner in which we live our lives, especially the way we relate to our brothers and sisters on the journey, always reflect the love of the Father!  May people know us as followers of Jesus by the way in which we show that love for God, and in the manner we respect and serve one another, especially those who are most in need!

Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen,  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Called to Bear Much Fruit, the Fifth Sunday of Easter

My Sisters and Brothers:

     The Easter Season is all about celebrating the life we share with Jesus!  As we reflect on today’s Gospel and the analogy it gives about the grapevine (see John 15:1-8), we might ask ourselves: “In our lives, how can we be ‘connected’ to Jesus, as grape branches are connected to the vine?”

     I think the first and obvious answer is that we must be people of prayer who have a deep and personal relationship with Jesus.  In this way we are able to receive life and strength from him who shares his life with us.  I think the second answer is that we must be connected to the community of believers and share in its life as well.  As many grape branches grow on the same vine, so we are many, and we share one source of life.  This common identity should enable us to live together in harmony, and to share in the life of our church and its mission.  I believe the third answer to this question brings together the answers to the first and second.  That’s to say, we will clearly demonstrate a connection to Jesus, and to the way we share in his life as members of a community, when we place ourselves at the service of others, especially the needy.

     Simply put, as Christians we must embrace the teachings of Jesus in our hearts, in our words, in our relationships with others, and in our daily practices.  Isn’t it true that if there are no fruits, or demonstrable good works in our lives, then surely we cannot claim to be connected to Jesus and/or to the community of believers?   Accordingly, we are reminded by Jesus about the consequences of not bearing fruit, and of being separated from him.  He says that such people will be like those branches cut off from the vine by the vine-grower and “thrown into the fire” (see John 15:6).  The implication of this is obvious to us.  Consequently, each one of us might do well to examine our consciences and ask ourselves:  “What are the demonstrable good works, or those fruits that I bear, in my Christian life?”

     Today’s Gospel challenges us not to be concerned only with our own needs, but rather it also calls us to look beyond ourselves.  As faithful followers of Jesus, we must always work for the good of others, and we must do things that clearly demonstrate his very life at work within us.  Jesus tells us “whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (see John 15:5).

     May Jesus continue to strengthen us in our personal lives of faith; may he fortify our relationships with one another, and may he always inspire us to dedicated service on behalf of others, especially for those who are most in need.  By what we say and do, and as we continue to celebrate Easter, may we joyfully proclaim the life we share with Jesus!   

Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen,  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Fourth Sunday of Easter

My Sisters and Brothers:

     In our Gospel today Jesus tells us that he is “the Good Shepherd” (see John 10:11-18).  A good shepherd will lay down his own life for his sheep, unlike a “hired man” in the same field who would likely abandon the sheep at the first sight of danger.  The sheep will listen to the voice of the shepherd and they will follow him with trust, because they know him well.  The sheep somehow understand that the shepherd will never abandon them, and they know that they will always be safe if they are faithful to his lead.  Jesus tells us: “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me” (see John 10:14).

     As I was reflecting on this Gospel, I thought about all those people in my life whom I have trusted in order to feel secure.  I think most would agree, and isn’t it true, that many people in our lives are like good shepherds to us?  Perhaps they have been our parents, who have always guided us to do the right thing, and who have helped us to become good people and productive members of society.  They may have been our close friends, who have always been there for us in good and in bad times.  Or maybe they have been our teachers, or those who are ministers in the church, and they have effectively shared their knowledge and/or the truths of the faith with us.  We need such men and women in our lives in order that we ourselves might become better people and to be as happy as possible in this life!

     But Jesus also warns us today that some of those who are supposed to shepherd us and to guide us are in fact not at all dependable or trustworthy.  These people will flee from us as soon as there is trouble or when we are facing some situation and/or issue in our lives that may be difficult to endure.  Jesus tells us that these people “see a wolf coming and leave the sheep and run away” (see John 10:12).  In the Gospel today, Jesus compares such people to the undependable “hired man.”  We might have known people like this in our own lives.  Perhaps they were those who claimed to be our friends, but who abandoned us as soon as they realized we needed some kind of help, or when we had some kind of difficulty, or because we had an uncomfortable situation to resolve.  Maybe they were people whom we unfortunately encountered, and who may have damaged us in far more sinister ways.  Surely such people would never give their lives in order to save us!

     Today, as we come together to celebrate our faith in Jesus, the Good Shepherd, may we continue to trust that he will always protect and guide us–that he will never abandon us, nor hurt us in any way!  May we always also have the wisdom to discern well between those who, like Jesus, truly are our “good shepherds,” and those who are more like the unfaithful “hired man” mentioned in today’s Gospel.

     With gratitude for all the positive men and women in our lives, let’s also embrace our own responsibility to share in Jesus’ mission–and to care for and to bring the faith to others.  As we continue to celebrate this Easter Season, may we be grateful that we have a Good Shepherd who has not only promised never to abandon us, but who has also given his life for us.  As Jesus promises to be with us and protect us always, may we likewise promise to support those who share our faith and our common identity as members of his flock.

Christ is Risen, Truly, He is Risen,  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace, the Third Sunday of Easter–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

            The “Peace Prayer,” usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, begins with the words “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”  There is no doubt in my mind that the author of the prayer understood very well that Jesus, our Risen Lord, is the source of all peace, and that he generously offers it to each one of us!

            Isn’t it true the sins of men and women, and all kinds of other negative human behaviors, are antithetical to peace!  Taking this obvious reality into consideration, we as Christians know Jesus saves us from our sins, and that he is the source of our true peace!  With this in mind, isn’t it interesting that the first words of the Resurrected Jesus spoken to the apostles in Jerusalem, and recounted by St. Luke in today’s Gospel are “peace be with you” (see Luke 24:36).

            These were the very words repeatedly spoken to the apostles by the same Jesus in last Sunday’s Gospel from St. John (see John 20:19-31).  While last week, we may have focused our reflection on the apostles’ fervent and faithful acceptance of Jesus as the Risen Christ, today we give great thought to the salvation of all people through repentance and forgiveness of sins–a message that has been preached for centuries and to all nations by those who have embraced the Christian faith.

            On both of these Sundays, we have heard about a Jesus who first and foremost offers “peace” in order to inspire and give strength to his followers.  Today we might summarize all of our Scripture readings with just one sentence: “Through his suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus the Christ forgives us of our sins; he saves us and gives us peace!”    

            In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter proclaims: “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away” (see Acts 3:19).  In the First Letter of St. John we hear: “Jesus Christ . . . is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world” (see 1 John 2:1-2).  Jesus proclaims in the Gospel today: “Peace be with you” and “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, will be preached in my name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (see Luke 24:36 and 47).

            My friends, as we continue to celebrate with Easter Joy, let us have confidence our Risen Jesus has accomplished his mission!  He has come into the world to forgive us of our sins, to make us whole, and to give us a peace that never ends!

Therefore, may each one of us enthusiastically pray . . .

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.  Amen.”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

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