June 15, 2014 – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Ex 34: 4B-6, 8-9; Dn 3: 52-56; 2 Cor 13: 11-13; Jn 3: 16-18
The mystery of the Holy Trinity is for most of us beyond our comprehension. How can there be three separate entities — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — yet all be the same God? Because it is difficult for us to fully grasp, this is a basic part of our Catholic faith. You may recall that St. Patrick explained it to the Irish by holding up a shamrock, which had three leaves. He pointed out that there were three distinct leaves, but only one shamrock.
In the second reading from his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul is concluding his letter. Our translation states “Mend your ways; encourage one another; agree with one another.” This is excellent advice always, but as is often the case, there is more depth to this statement than we may realize. The term “mend your ways” was “be complete” or “be perfected” in the original Greek (katartizesthe). The Holy Trinity makes God “complete” and “perfect” in so many ways.
That is beyond our capabilities, of course, but we can still strive to make ourselves “complete.” One of the ways to do that is to adopt stewardship as a way of life, a type of living which has us striving daily to fulfill our role in the Church and to respond to our Baptismal calling.
