Sunday Reflections

When I was in my first year of University I took a World Religious course.  One day the Professor told us a story – a myth – to help us understand the aspect of mystery, a subject so frequent whenever we talk about faith and beliefs.  It is the story of a bird and a fish.  The fish found itself one day too close to shore, and a large wave beached it.  It struggles to get back into the water each time a wave came in, but not only was not having any luck, but was becoming exhausted from all the struggle.  Suddenly a bird flew down beside the fish, having seen its distress, and said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Fish, you can fly with me to my nest”.  Of course, the fish had no idea what flying was, and no idea what a nest was.  They were real – we know that – but not to the fish.  Sometimes in our expression and language we find ourselves in the same situation, trying to understand and explain something that is beyond our experience, beyond our comprehension.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity is just such an occasion when we may feel like the fish, trying to grasp what has been revealed about heavenly realities that are beyond our experience and imagining.  In the gospel (John 16:12-15) Jesus speaks to us about His Father, and about the Holy Spirit.  He speaks of his intimate union with the Father, and that the Spirit will “declare to you the things that are coming”.  Jesus invites us into relationship with the Father and the Son – three persons, yet one God.

Our First Reading, from the Book of Proverbs (8:22-31), speaks to us of creation.  The three Persons of the Trinity existed together, each one being made manifest at different times in human history, and in different ways.  This reading also tells us how God “found delight in the human race” and that He wants to enter into relationship with us.  He created us, and He loves us, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to share our humanity and to save us.

In our Second Reading, from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (5:1-5), St. Paul bears witness to the Trinity.  He says “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ“.  He is acknowledging that Jesus has become that ‘bridge’ between the Father and us.  Through Jesus we have the fullness of revelation about the Father.  The Holy Spirit is revealed to us as the source of grace and virtue “that has been given to us”.  Last week, in the Feast of Pentecost, we celebrated that glorious coming of the Holy Spirit in human history.

Throughout Sacred Scripture, just as in numerous references in the prayers of the Eucharist we are reminded about our life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Our Mass prayers are directed to the Father, in union with Christ our Saviour, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Take special notice today, during the Liturgy, just how often the Trinity is referred to, beginning with the Sign of the Cross at the beginning of the Mass.  Then we are greeted with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God (the Father), and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all”.  Over and over again you will hear the Trinity proclaimed.

Just as we have a unique relationship with each person in our life, I believe it is important for us to look more closely on how we relate to each of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.  Then we can truly appreciate each person of the Trinity and ‘work on’ that relationship.

For most people the Father is easy to relate to, as He is the creator, revealed in the Old Testament and proclaimed by Jesus, His Son.  We experience His presence in the creation around us, and have awe and wonder for all that He has made – especially in the human race.  He created us to know, love and serve Him.  Our prayers to the Father are often filled with gratitude for His creation, and How he has created us.

Jesus is easy for us to relate to because He was one like us in all things (except sin).  In the Gospels we walk with Jesus, hear Jesus, see Jesus, touch Jesus, and are touched by Jesus.  He is our friend and guide, the one who calls us to discipleship and stewardship.  We feel His support, and His challenge, as we do in any friendship in life.   We all have a ‘history’ with Jesus, beginning in our childhood, and maturing and changing as we age, mature and develop.  We can easily look back and recognize how our image of Jesus has changed throughout our life, evolving according to circumstances and events.

The Holy Spirit, I find, is more elusive and harder to describe to people.  The Holy Spirit accompanies us and encourages us in our life with the Father and the Son.  He inspires us and illuminates us, if we are open to Him.  Some of the words used to describe the Holy Spirit help me to recognize His role in my life.  One of these words is ‘advocate’, that the Spirit is ‘on my side’, defending me and helping me to speak in prayer.  Another beautiful word is the ‘paraclete’.  This word means, ‘the one who hears the cry of the poor’.  WOW!  What a significant word for the Holy Spirit.  He is with me in my need, in my vulnerability, confusion and fear.  I am never alone as long as I turn to the Spirit for the graces and blessings that await me.

Three persons, yet one God.  Three distinct friendships and relationships, yet one God.  Once again, like that fish, we may be at a loss for words how to articulate these relationships between the members of the Holy Trinity, and ourselves with each one.  The important thing, especially on this Feast of the Holy Trinity, is that we seek to experience it, express it, that we want to make it known and share it with others, so that they may grow in that relationship, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.