Feast of the Most Holy Trinity
In 1971, I was preparing for final vows as a Dominican sister. I was thrilled that the feast of Pentecost was to be celebrated at that time. I quickly moved to choose this feast. I had recently come to experience the Holy Spirit in very real ways, so it made sense to choose this feast. Lo and behold it was not possible as there was another happening that I had to attend. The next Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Trinity. This just meant mystery to me and was not a feast of my heart nor of my head. This weekend is the celebration of the feast of the Most Holy Trinity and it is much more meaningful to me now.
The presence and action of our Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier—the Trinity—are major experiences on the spiritual path. This walk with God and others is never complete personally and in our world. This is ongoing with its joys and with its challenges; with its letting go and letting God, Who calls from within and speaks in the signs and realities of our time.
We pray and read scripture and other spiritual reflections. We participate in liturgical worship. We serve others. We do the work of justice. Within ordinary experiences, God initiates and offers us a Love so great, so Trinitarian! It couldn’t be more clear. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my Love” (John 15:9). Our awareness, openness, and acceptance of God’s promptings are a “yes” to an ongoing relationship with the Living God. Today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans identifies this union: “…the Love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
This oneness with God is not for ourselves to keep. We are given, in the Spirit, Divine Love to pour upon our broken world. With a struggle perhaps, but a blazing love purifies us of our own selfishness and manifests this Godly self in relationships, community and country. It is this Trinitarian Presence, not just my own, that I pray for and hopefully share with the patients and families and co-workers in my ministry in health care. It is the Higher Power that has led millions to be freed from addictions, depression, anxiety and self-absorption. It is this relationship with the Divine Love in us that forgives and sacrifices and gives generously to others.
This evolving unity that is present in some relationships cries out to be present between and among families. This unifying life begs to be present in countries on many continents. We often pray in our intercessions for its accomplishment within Ukraine and Russia and NATO; between Palestine and Israel; in Congo and South Sudan and Sudan; and within our own 50 states in our hope to truly be the United States. Such division in our world and in our lives cries out for unity. What a powerful “word made flesh” that yearns to be spoken in a society that prides itself in unhealthy individualism and consumerism that forgets the common good. The source of this unity, this undivided unity, this oneness, is it not Trinitarian presence and action? It is no wonder that the Word chosen to be proclaimed today reminds us that “the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
As a Christian food outreach service in the Bronx says, “God’s love we deliver.”
The time is very ripe to be aware and celebrate where or when this unity is activated in ourselves, maybe even in Congress, and hopefully in our world. The time is very right for us to entrust the obviously apparent divisions to our God, Who calls us to do this work of transformation as we are empowered in the Spirit.
Jo-Anne Faillace, OP