Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Today's Mass Readings

Here is a letter that I received recently from Anne Albright. She writes:"I recently received a card from someone regarding my attendance at the healing mass in October, 2008, and would like to express my gratitude.

I have attended two healing masses on behalf of my son at Immaculate Conception Church. A year ago he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. The doctors said that they could treat him, but did not hold out much hope. Chemo was started and in November he had a surgery and the doctors removed what they could from his abdomen. Steve began to surprise the medical people with better-than-expected blood work and other tests. The protocol for this type of cancer is to do a second surgery six months later after the first, with more scraping and cutting. (At the first surgery they found that the cancer had not invaded any of his organs- it was all on the outside). All the test scars currently show no sign of cancer, and the doctors hope to just “have a look around” laparascopically instead of opening his abdomen again. My heartfelt thanks to you for our prayers because I know that prayer is what has created a better prognosis. Steve has three year old and 19 month old children and his wish is for them to know him. Please continue to remember him in your prayers. My thanks to all,” - Anne Albright Today we celebrate the feast of the Trinity. On this feast, it is not uncommon for preachers to focus on God as mystery. In other words, when talking about God, we must admit that we do not understand everything about God. On the other hand, if today’s scriptures are any indication, if Anne Albright’s letter is any indication, there are somethings we know to be absolutely true about God. Let me begin with Moses’ rhetorical questions to the Israelites in today’s first reading. Moses asks, “Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?” Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation? And the answer to these questions that Moses and Anne Albright give is: “God is close to us and speaks to us. God cares for us and saves us.” Moses and Anne know this to be absolutely about God. In my own personal life all that I care to know about God is that God is pure love. I see the crucifix each day and I say – “Wow! This is my God.” So, it does not matter to me that I do not know much about God. Today, I want to celebrate what I do know about God, that God is love.

Let me offer three practical implications for today:
a) Each of us knows something about God. In today’s first reading, Moses speaks of God as someone who is close by. Mathew says that same things when he has Jesus say in the gospel reading, “I am with you always, until the end of the age" Mt 28:20). Anne Albright speaks of God as a God who answers prayers. I speak of God as someone who is pure love. I am sure that each of us has our own convictions about God. If we put together all that we know about God, it would create an image of God that is perhaps as rich as the Trinity. This week I would like you to pray about your core convictions about God.

b) Secondly, in our relation to God, we know somethings about ourselves. In today’s second reading, Paul says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Rom 8:14). If we put together all that we imagine ourselves to be in relation to God, our image of humanity will be as rich as being children of God. This week I would like you to pray about your core convictions about yourself in relation to God.

c) Finally, then, we have what we believe about God and we have what we believe about ourselves in relation to God. Jesus gives us an undisputed command in today’s gospel reading. “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19). The command for us is simply this – that we make known our convictions about God and about ourselves to others. When this happens a deeper image of God will emerge and a deeper image our humanity will emerge.

In conclusion let me say this. In today’s gospel reading, when the disciples met Jesus on the mountain, they worshipped him. But some doubted. Today, as we stand on the mountain of this altar, let us push all doubts away. Rather convinced that we are children of God let us worship and adore. It is when we worship this Triune God that we truly discover our own identity. Amen.

- Fr. Satish Joseph