“GLORY TO THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Today is Trinity Sunday. On this Sunday, we honor and revere the Most Blessed Trinity in a special way. The Blessed Trinity is the most profound and incomprehensible truth of our holy religion. The Preface of today’s Mass succinctly defines the essence of this mystery and our response in faith. "We joyfully proclaim our faith in the mystery of your Godhead. You have revealed your glory as the glory also of your Son and of the Holy Spirit: three Persons equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, yet one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your everlasting glory."
In the First Reading, Moses, holding the two tablets of the law, assures the Israelites of God’s mercy: “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Today’s Responsorial Psalm, taken from the Book of Daniel, proclaims the Church’s unending praise and adoration: “Glory and praise forever!”
In all of its rituals and prayers, the Church invokes and exalts the Most Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God in Three Divine Persons.
The Israelites, immersed in the belief in the, One True God, were not aware in the least, of the Blessed Trinity. It was Our Lord Himself who revealed this. Jesus made know to the Apostles that, in the One God, there are Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit confirmed this truth on Pentecost.
For centuries, the Fathers, Doctors and theologians of the Church have pondered this mystery. Saint Augustine, for example, wrote a profound book called De Trinitate (Concerning the Blessed Trinity). Yet, despite our efforts to explore the mystery, the Blessed Trinity is totally beyond our limited, human intelligence. Therefore, understanding must yield to faith. We believe that which God has revealed for, God can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Trinity Sunday reminds us of God’s splendor, majesty and glory. What are we in comparison to God? Today, when sins of pride abound, man must reflect constantly upon our Almighty God. Pagan culture, has fed man's pride with inordinate notions of "self-esteem." In days of faith, students were taught to know, love and serve God. Now, the emphasis is on the ego. Me! "I am number one!" This mentality obscures the truth that: "The Lord is God and there is no other."
Scripture reminds us that God hates pride and hears the humble. Instead, Jesus taught us: "Learn of me, for I am gentle and humble of heart"(Matt 11: 29). True self-esteem must lead us to humility and not pride.
Saint Thomas Aquinas defines for us a true, well-ordered self-esteem. The Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, created us and destined us for eternal life as His adopted sons. When man strayed from God by sin, the Father sent the Son to be our Redeemer. He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became man. After dying on the Cross and rising from the dead, the Son sent the Holy Spirit, the Third person of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and maintains the Catholic Church in truth.
Saint John says: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God! Yes! That is what we are" (1John 3: 1). Of ourselves, we are nothing. We are like grains of sand of the beach of the universe. Yet, in God's loving plan, we have the infinite worth of sons of God. See how God loves us! He made us His sons and daughters.
On this Trinity Sunday, in adoration, let us fall on our knees in union with Our Blessed Mother, the Angels, Archangels, and the whole heavenly host. Let us worship the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. SANCTUS! SANCTUS! SANCTUS! HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen! Amen!
Father Richard J. Rego
In the First Reading, Moses, holding the two tablets of the law, assures the Israelites of God’s mercy: “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Today’s Responsorial Psalm, taken from the Book of Daniel, proclaims the Church’s unending praise and adoration: “Glory and praise forever!”
In all of its rituals and prayers, the Church invokes and exalts the Most Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God in Three Divine Persons.
The Israelites, immersed in the belief in the, One True God, were not aware in the least, of the Blessed Trinity. It was Our Lord Himself who revealed this. Jesus made know to the Apostles that, in the One God, there are Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit confirmed this truth on Pentecost.
For centuries, the Fathers, Doctors and theologians of the Church have pondered this mystery. Saint Augustine, for example, wrote a profound book called De Trinitate (Concerning the Blessed Trinity). Yet, despite our efforts to explore the mystery, the Blessed Trinity is totally beyond our limited, human intelligence. Therefore, understanding must yield to faith. We believe that which God has revealed for, God can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Trinity Sunday reminds us of God’s splendor, majesty and glory. What are we in comparison to God? Today, when sins of pride abound, man must reflect constantly upon our Almighty God. Pagan culture, has fed man's pride with inordinate notions of "self-esteem." In days of faith, students were taught to know, love and serve God. Now, the emphasis is on the ego. Me! "I am number one!" This mentality obscures the truth that: "The Lord is God and there is no other."
Scripture reminds us that God hates pride and hears the humble. Instead, Jesus taught us: "Learn of me, for I am gentle and humble of heart"(Matt 11: 29). True self-esteem must lead us to humility and not pride.
Saint Thomas Aquinas defines for us a true, well-ordered self-esteem. The Father, the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, created us and destined us for eternal life as His adopted sons. When man strayed from God by sin, the Father sent the Son to be our Redeemer. He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became man. After dying on the Cross and rising from the dead, the Son sent the Holy Spirit, the Third person of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and maintains the Catholic Church in truth.
Saint John says: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God! Yes! That is what we are" (1John 3: 1). Of ourselves, we are nothing. We are like grains of sand of the beach of the universe. Yet, in God's loving plan, we have the infinite worth of sons of God. See how God loves us! He made us His sons and daughters.
On this Trinity Sunday, in adoration, let us fall on our knees in union with Our Blessed Mother, the Angels, Archangels, and the whole heavenly host. Let us worship the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. SANCTUS! SANCTUS! SANCTUS! HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen! Amen!
Father Richard J. Rego
posted by Fr. Richard J. Rego at 4:58 PM
2 Comments:
*grin* Yes, the Catholic notion of "self-worth" is paradoxical. On the one hand we are sanctified because each Person of the Blessed Trinity has shown an interest particular to Himself in one affair, Man, and yet on the other hand we are ungrateful, unruly, and utterly impotent creatures.
No, Christa! We are not utterly always "ungrateful, unruly, and uterly impotent creature." God has given us gifts which we are to use for his greater honor and glory. St. Ignatius alway prefixed everything that he did by saying: "To the Greater Glory of God."
Saint Paul asks: "What do you have that you have not been given?" Obviously, nothing! "Every good gift comes from God," Paul says.
Yes! Many people are ungrateful, etc. Other do as the Lord's has asked and not hide thier talents under a bushel basket. They strive3 to do everything for God's greater glory. God bless you.
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