FOR MOST OF US, one of our deepest, if not the deepest, longings and yearnings is to love and to be loved. Although we might find it difficult to verbally acknowledge this as it could expose our vulnerability, we read about that desire in stories, see it portrayed in films and hear it in our music.
For those of us in a certain generation, we might remember the song “Looking for love in all the wrong places,” while the younger generations can easily find current songs on this same theme. When we do not know the source of true love, nor even what true love acts, feels, looks and sounds like, then yes, our love-starved hearts and souls will search in all the wrong places, just as a starving person will eat any food, even the unhealthiest, just to remain alive.
Have you ever imagined living in a family where there is perfect acceptance, forgiveness, generosity, goodness, love and understanding? Seems too good to be true, right? Right, for it is impossible for such a family to exist since we are all wounded by original sin! AND YET, this family exists, and we actually belong to it. We were baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” At our baptism, we were adopted into the Family of God, the Holy Trinity, and so we have the privilege and the right to address God as our Father.
God’s love is so complete, real and total, that each of us is loved personally, exclusively and infinitely. St. Augustine expressed this admirably when he said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Taking that a step further, we can say that Jesus, motivated by His love for God the Father and us, died for each of us as if there were only one of us. The Holy Spirit, the love between the Father and the Son, is given to each of us to help us live as true children of God our Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus, our brother.
Today, June 15, is the Feast of the Holy Trinity, celebrated one week after Pentecost. The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of our Christian faith: we believe in one God in three Divine Persons. The three Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity were clearly revealed at the Baptism of Jesus (see Mt. 3:16-17). Before Jesus returned home to heaven at the Ascension, He specifically commissioned His apostles to “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. 28:19-20)
Let us, then, do our part to help others know this family united in love, the Holy Trinity.
FOR YOUR FAMILY
■ Pray the Sign of the Cross and the Glory Be slowly and lovingly, focusing on the words as you pronounce the names of each of the persons of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.
■ Have a special prayer, including Bible readings on the Trinity and Trinity songs such as “Come Holy Ghost.”
■ Find online crafts and activities for Trinity Sunday.
■ Celebrate today’s feast of the Holy Trinity with a special meal featuring trinitarian recipes. Bake and enjoy a cake or cookies in the shape of a shamrock. St. Patrick illustrated his teaching about the Holy Trinity (one God in three equal Persons) with the three equal leaves on one shamrock.