Our brother and friend, Jesus Christ, obeyed totally his father and our father in his life acknowledging his mission as Son of God, undergoing his passion, crucifixion, and death on the cross in Calvary. Our Lord Jesus Christ is faithful to God the Father in the Holy Spirit from the beginning of his life as Son of God, teaching in the synagogues of Nazareth and Capernaum.
Jesus Christ’s saving mission benefits the disciples, including us, because he promised for those who believe him and are baptized that none will be lost of those given to him by God the Father. Our pursuit of this so-called Salvation depends upon our intimate and loving relationship with our God.
As finite human beings, we have choices and priorities in life. Because of the freedom of choice, we practice what we believe is right and good. At times, usually we do not care about something that we do not understand; therefore it is hard to believe and practice.
The Holy Trinity (Blessed Trinity) is a doctrine of the church. This doctrine teaches that there are three persons in one God. The one God (Yahweh or Lord) in the Old Testament is the God that the Israelites (Jews) believe in and no other. However, we the New Testament people are blessed with stories in Jesus’ life which help us understand the mystery. For example, during the baptism of Jesus Christ by his cousin John the Baptist, we recall, “Jesus too was baptized. Then while he was praying, the heavens opened. The Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, “You are my Son, this day I have begotten you.” (Luke 3:21-23)
It is known that the relationship of the Most Holy Trinity is personal and intimate. Christ invites the disciples including us to be friends – no longer servants – with him. Praise the Lord, we could have Jesus Christ as best friend. We stay united with Jesus Christ by obeying his commandments in loving God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor).
Jesus Christ is very personal and intimate with us. He revealed his secrets in the Holy Scriptures (secrets of his Father) to us as we always have God with us (Emmanuel – Incarnation). We are all spiritually blessed. What more can we ask for from God? Paul in the second reading today reminds us: (Rom 8:15-17) “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” As we share with Jesus Christ in the cup of passion (suffering and death), we also share in the cup of glory (Resurrection and Ascension). Jesus Christ is present with us in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Mass). That is why the priest who represents Jesus Christ in the Holy Mass intones the doxology of the Blessed Trinity.
We must come to appreciate the value of praying to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. After all, when Jesus taught us to pray he said, “When you pray, say “Our Father…” It has been observed that Christianity is not much looking at Jesus as it is looking in the same direction with him.,. that is, to the Father. And so the Trinity is indeed a very important mystery for us, not just something to believe and then we forget. This great truth should shape our attitude toward the three persons in God and influence our prayer. Indeed the mystery of the Trinity is a very personal matter.
Because we have joined a pilgrimage towards a loving, compassionate and merciful God, we could always be grateful and thankful to God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for an intimate and friendly relationship with them (hopefully and peacefully).
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 