May 31, 2015

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

Deuteronomy 4: 32-34, 39-40; Romans 8: 14-17; Matthew 28: 16-20

The Trinity is a mystery; what is a mystery? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives its definition: “1: a religious truth known by revelation alone 2: something not understood or beyond understand…”

So why am I trying to ‘figure God out’? Why do I try to make sense of God in my human mind when I can’t even understand the universe? A while ago on PBS I watched an amazing program on the Hubble Telescope and what it has brought to light in this amazing universe. A few questions were answered; thousands more were created: when will we discover the answers…maybe they will just come up with more questions. More importantly, it’s not about me discovering the answer to God but it’s knowing that God actually loves ‘little old me’; I am known and important.

The mystery of God is always bigger than our answers. I’m trying to get in touch with a God who always loves and I have a problem loving people in my life; especially those who are closest to me who just get me upset at times. I’m trying to understand God who always forgives me…understands me and loves me…and I have a very hard time in understanding, forgiving and loving. It comes down to the fact that I have a hard time understanding God because I can’t even begin to understand myself. Who am I…why was I born…why was I born in this time and in this place? I remember an old children’s tale that God created each person so that they can do the mission that God had chosen for them…and it’s about loving someone special…and when we love that person as best we can then our job is done and we go to God so that God can love us for loving. A nice little tale and I think there is a lot more truth in this than I can see. Fr. Karl Rahner said that God draws near, shares God’s very own life with us and makes us one with God and with each other…through love. So if and when I love, I am sharing God…which initially I would say, ‘I can’t do that.’ But the person who was touched by ‘my love’ says, ‘Thank You...I could feel God’s love in you…through you.’

On this special feast of God, I think it is important to see how I have been loved. God is constantly touching me…so that I can go and touch others.

I would like to share a story of love. I read this in the book Green Bananas…the Wisdom of Father Bill Atkinson. Fr. Bill died on September 15, 2006. He was an Augustinian priest and in the 2000 year history of the Catholic Church he was the first quadriplegic ordained to the priesthood. While in the seminary he was tobogganing in New York State. Bill was the front rider. Four young men were enjoying a fantastic ride when suddenly, they careened into a tree…the horrible collision broke Bill’s neck. For the next 40 years he was confined to a wheelchair and totally dependent on friends and family. He taught for many years at Monsignor Bonner High School in Upper Darby, Pa, the suburbs of Philadelphia. He was an inspiration. The book touched me deeply. NOW each of us is called to TOUCH OTHERS DEEPLY. We do this ONLY through GOD’s grace AND so often we don’t even know we have that much effect on others…but each person does…and when we love…we are bringing God WHICH is the MYSTERY of the Trinity. Some thoughts from Fr. Bill on different topics:

Be Real…”Know yourself and love that person. Not in an egotistical way but know that in God’s eyes you’re worthy and then bring love to others.”

Real Love…”It’s the only thing you get when you come into life and it’s the only thing you take out of it, and I’ve had a lot of it,’…”Without the love of my family and friends, I wouldn’t have survived my accident I would have died many times if I didn’t have them to live for.”…”I knew that I was rich because I had family and friends who loved me”…”I had to learn that I was dependent on the kindness of others and that took me a long time to accept and I couldn’t pay anyone back.”

“It’s hard to admit those unpleasant things about ourselves, but it’s good to be honest about it. “ (Fr. Bill is talking with the author of this book, Steve McWilliams who cared for him once a week for 18 years): “We resolved that discussion by agreeing that the only thing you could give me back was your time with me, and that was what we gave to each other over the years.”

Speaking about a co-worker who Steve was furious with, Fr. Bill said, “Love him no matter what he did and you’ll find peace; that’s God’s way. All of your anger is just going to make you sick. Give in to God’s love, you’ll be surprised what appears in your life.”…”“Love God by loving your neighbor, give and receive love is the big Christian message…the rest is just buildings and ceremonies. Love is our pipeline to the divine and God’s waiting for us to get that one of these days and in the meantime, He’s being very patient with us.”

Broken Pots…”We often get rid of friends rather than examine ourselves.” …”Don’t blame, accept…fix yourself before setting off to fix everyone else.” … Let God work through others…listen…let Him work His magic.

Waiting…”I’m God’s poster boy for teaching you don’t get what you want, but God sends what you need.” … “Even in my wheelchair, with this paralyzed body, I’ve learned that it still works out. Things work out in God’s time, not yours and don’t forget, God only gives you what HE thinks you can handle. I had to learn to practice patience.” … “It’s one of the jobs we have to do, and if you pay attention to developing patience you’ll survive the really difficult times as well as helping others around you to do the same.”

Watch for the Illusion of Power…”I’ll never understand even my own Augustinian brothers who seem to chase power though ambition or position.”…”Your inner strength and your integrity, that’s what counts in the eyes of God. He made you, He knows you, and He’s not impressed with your bank account either but only the love with which you live by.”

Letting God “We’re all losing something all the time.”…I lost my independence, but people like yourself showed up. I can bemoan the loss or I can be grateful for the assistance. What happened to the dreams of my youth? It’s all just temporary and my dreams just had to change.”

These are wonderful words of wisdom. Yet each person who believes in God’s love for them is a person who shares that love in so many ways. Often the sharing seems to be insignificant in kind or helpful words, a smile, a look; yet to the person receiving them, they know they are loved in a deeper way. This ‘mystery’ is God’s loving.

Fr. Richard Viladesau in The Word In and Out of Season describes the Trinity in this way: “God is and always remains the absolute mystery of being, the creator, the One who is ever beyond, but who reveals God’s self as the mystery of love, and whom we dare to call ‘Father.’ But God is also the One whom we encounter in Jesus – not simply alongside Jesus’ humanity, but revealed in and through that humanity as its deepest ground and meaning, so that Jesus is truly God’s ‘Word,’ God’s self-expression, in person. And we know God also as the dynamism in our own being which allows us to believe, gives us joy, joins us as one – in short, as the Spirit of God, the breath of God’s own life animating us.” John constantly shares in his gospel and letters that ‘God is love’; He loves me; He loves every person. That itself is a mystery and it is a mystery that I need so much…I just need to be loved and to love. I reflect on love on this day of mystery.