Walking with Jesus: The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity B

For Sunday, May 26, 2024

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

What a wonderful trio of readings the Church puts before us today. Take a moment to slow down and read them slowly. Moses is reflecting on the greatest event that ever happened: God created the universe and then created man … woman. What does that tell us? God, to make creation complete, created Adam and then Eve. WE are the reason He created this marvelous, absolutely beautiful universe in all its vastness with wonders upon wonders. And here we are, reflecting that God created each of us because each is an important part of God’s plan. No created human being is an accident: We are created for a purpose … God’s purpose … to reveal the constant shades of God’s love and glory, and His plan to bring each of us to eternity in heaven.

Psalm 33 tells us that God has chosen us to be His own. We are special; we have been called by Love to be love so that all who believe, have faith, and are people of love, will be with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever in heaven ... and KNOW LOVE ITSELF.

In Romans 8, Paul shares with the Romans the keynote of what it means to be a Christian in love with the Lord. We are not “figures of speech” — we are not accidents — we have been created specially to BE the person of love NEEDED to share love so that others may see and be convinced that EACH one is love, created individually by God … and our love can help and influence others to be LOVE.

In the Ascension event, Matthew describes Jesus’ return to heaven to be with the Father and Holy Spirit to continue to be love for all so that — by our commission at Baptism — each of us can teach others to be love, KNOWING that Jesus is with us at EVERY MOMENT … no matter how far we feel we have drifted, no matter how many times we have spoken non-love words and actions. God loves each of us that much AND always gives us the help we need. Am I reaching out for that love? Where am I failing? Am I asking God for help? He’s always with us; what am I afraid of? God is love totally.

Today’s Feast of the Holy Trinity brings us face-to-face with the foundation of our faith. The readings provide ANSWERS to the question, Who is God? They cause each of us to STOP and call to mind some of the wonders that God has accomplished for us and in us. Love has been the prime example of God’s love: marriages that have made us aware of God and love; the birth of children, God’s precious gift so wonderfully held and treasured in our arms; family and friends; fellow workers and church believers; and countless people appearing in our lives for just a moment — or many moments — who have touched us and made us feel loved, important and valued, even in today's world that is neglecting these acts and values.

When we look at the universe and all creation, we are in awe. How could it all happen? There is no way it’s by accident, because all creation cries out in splendor and majesty and glory. Believers and non-believers alike are captivated by a “reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder” — the definition of awe. Some just leave it at that. Others wonder where it all came from. There must be a creator; all creation proclaims the glory of God. The little we know about God’s own self, we know from Jesus. God is with us … He cares about us in our addictions and cravings and attempts by our demons to blow us off track and compromise God’s love by our fears … hurts … selfish tendencies … getting even … hatred. WHY? God is passionately, boundlessly in love with us and all who live and ever lived — every minute of every day — AND He wants us to be with Him forever in heaven.

So I reflect on:

• Christianity states that we can look at ourselves as adopted children of God. How might I look at myself as an adoptive parent bringing others into God’s community of love?
• Do I look around at communities of love and care in places I might not have considered before today?

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“The Trinity is a community of love. We are drawn into their life to share it. Getting inspiration from the icon of Rublev (of the Trinity), we pray that we may avail of that open space to enter the gift our God of love desires for us.

“Much of what we celebrate in our faith lives is done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. May we cherish what we have been given and anticipate what the Trinity has in store for us.”