Trinity Sunday 2011
By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
June 19, 2011
June 19, 2011
If Father feels inadequate to explain some of the doctrines of the Church how about me trying to come to an understanding of The Most Holy Trinity?
We may remember St. Thomas asserting the goodness and Presence of God by pure intellect. Meaning that we can argue that the human mind, through its powers of observation and deduction, is capable of concluding that God exists. But Thomas would also conclude that our knowledge of God is incomplete.
Through Divine Revelation, God discloses His Life to us. The fundamental truth about God is that He is One---there is only one God---but that He is not solitary---He exists in an altogether mysterious communion of Three Divine Person, Father, Son and Spirit. Each of the Divine Persons is distinct, yet each fully possess the One Divine Nature. "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in Himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith. The light that enlighten them." From our Catechism article #234.
Isn't it simply enough to know that God Is? Why confuse us with mysteries that are beyond our capacity to fully comprehend? The short answer to that question is that it is in God's nature to share His Life and Love. For God is Love, as the Scriptures tell us, and Love, if it is genuine, cannot keep to itself; it is naturally directed to another. Since God is Love, and Loved must be directed outward, there must be someone to whom God extends this Love, not just in time, but also for all Eternity. That Person is the Son. And because the Love of the Father and the Son is so complete, intense and eternal, it is itself a living Divine Person, the Holy Spirit.
This Truth is essential to our own self-understanding, since we are created in God's image and likeness. Our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity is a tangible sign of our trust in God who has reveled Himself to us. In addition this truth about God illuminates our self-understanding, since we are created in God's image and likeness. Like God, we are not meant to be radically isolated: "It is not good for man to be alone," (Gen 2:18). The doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that our relationship with God, while personal, is also ecclesial, meaning being part of the community of the Church. Apart from the Church, one's relationship with God is incomplete.
How fitting, then, that we commemorate this Divine Mystery today, in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in which the Church offers Christ to the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Mass is the ultimate expression of the Trinitarian Love of God. We are drawn into that Love as a foretaste and promise of Eternal Life. May God--Father, Son and Spirit intensify within us the desire to share in His Divine Life.
Our Sunday Visitor printed a pamphlet a couple years ago by Cory Busse on 10 ways to be a great Catholic Dad. I thought to share that with you, really as an examination of Conscience for Fathers.
1. Keep Holy the Lord's Day - and All Those Other days, Do our children know that Mass is the center of our lives?
2. Teach Your Children Faith. Do they not only hear us talk about faith, but also model prayerful and confident trust in God?
3. Don't Forget Forgiveness. Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity; do we practice it. and model for our kids the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
4. Give and Let Give. Do we teach and show them the importance of generosity and service?
5. Play and Have Fun. Joy is the hallmark of a Christian; do our kids see that in us?
6. Get Caught Praying. Without daily prayer and conversation with God, we are dead. Do our kids see us pray, and do we initiate family prayer?
7. Be "Mr. Doesn't-Know-It-All". Do we foster an attitude of curiosity and search for truth?
8. Might for Right. Do we model integrity?
9. Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let it Shine. Do we help our kids find their talents and do we encourage them to develop them?
10. Tradition! Tradition! Do we take our Catholic identity seriously and pass on to our children important rituals and "language" of their faith?
And I would like to add; Do your children see you modeling toward your wife patient love, forgiveness, service and initiative? For the greatest gift you can give to your children is that they know you love their mother!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
More reflections:
Somewhat-related posts:
- "I Don't Understand the Trinity: No Surprise There"
(May 6, 2011) - "Rambling About What 'Spirit' Means"
(February 22, 2011) - "Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, and Warm Fuzzies"
(August 8, 2010) - "Trinity Sunday, 2010"
(May 30, 2010) - "The Seven Sacraments and Life in the Trinity: Charming Book, Local Author"
(April 26, 2010)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 232-260
- Genesis 2:18
- Proverbs 8:22-31
- John 16:12-15
- Romans 5:1-5
1 comment:
I'm doing something a little different today: making an exact copy of a comment received this morning, minus the URL:
"Gale said..."
"I pray 5 times a day and go to church atleast twice a week."
"June 20, 2011 9:19 AM"
Here's why I copied, and then deleted, Gale's comment.
The URL in "Gale" leads to what is probably an outfit that sells something they say is a generic form of Cipro (Ciprofloxacin). Ciprofloxacin is a real drug, sometimes used to treat anthrax. (www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/faq/preventive.asp)
The URL is registered to an outfit in Australia that specializes in registering URLs for folks who don't want anybody to know who they really are, or where they live. There can be legitimate reasons for hiding like that - but I don't want to help direct people to some outfit that sells drugs and doesn't want anybody to know who they are.
On the other hand - - -
"Gale" may be a real person - and if so, good for you.
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