St. Clare Catholic Church

Another late post:
We had our heritage potluck late this year because Pentecost fell on Memorial Day weekend. Postponed to May 31st, it was highly successful once again and there was plenty of vittles for everyone!
Some even got to take home!

Yesterday at Mass we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Trinity -- I thought I'd share this nice write-up --

"A God Who Affirms, Accompanies, and Saves" (Trinity Sunday)

A house caught fire in the middle of the night. Flames spread quickly through the building. A small child was trapped upstairs, crying for help. Neighbors gathered outside, helplessly watching the fire grow stronger.
Suddenly, a man rushed into the burning house. It was the child's father. Without thinking of his own safety, he entered the flames searching desperately for his son.
At the same time, a firefighter climbed through a window and reached the frightened child. Outside, another rescuer shouted instructions, guiding them toward safety.
Minutes later, the child was brought out alive. Afterward, people argued about who had saved the child. "The father saved him." "No, the firefighter saved him." "No, the one guiding them outside saved him." But the truth is: it was one rescue carried out by three persons, each fully involved, each acting in love.
My dear brothers and sisters, that is a beautiful image of the Holy Trinity. The Father sends. The Son enters our burning world. The Holy Spirit guides, strengthens, and leads us safely home.
G.K. Chesterton once remarked that the Trinity is proof that Christianity was not invented by human beings. If human beings had invented religion, they would have made it simple. But the Trinity breaks all the rules.
It breaks the rules of mathematics: 1 + 1 + 1 is still One.
It breaks the rules of grammar: singular and plural at the same time.
It challenges human philosophy and reason.
And yet, we believe not because we fully understand but because God Himself has revealed it.
The Trinity is not a puzzle to solve but a relationship to enter. Pope Francis beautifully said: "God is not a solitary God. He is a communion of love."
And today the Scriptures reveal to us three beautiful qualities of that divine love.

1. The Trinity is a Relationship of Affirmation
One of the most touching moments in the Gospel occurs at the baptism of Jesus.

The Father looks at His Son and says: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." What beautiful words!
The Father affirms the Son. He does not compete with Him. He does not overshadow Him. He delights in Him. Likewise, before ascending into heaven, Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit: "The Advocate will come. He will strengthen you and guide you."

The Son affirms the Spirit. He prepares the disciples to welcome Him. Within the Trinity, there is no jealousy, no rivalry, no struggle for power.
Each Person honors the other. Each Person creates space for the other. Each Person rejoices in the mission of the other.
Imagine how our families would change if we learned this divine lesson. Many wounds in families come from the lack of affirmation.
A husband longs to hear, "I am proud of you." A wife longs to hear, "Thank you for all that you do." A child longs to hear, "I believe in you." Parents long to hear, "Thank you."

The Trinity teaches us to affirm rather than criticize, to encourage rather than discourage. When affirmation becomes the language of the family, heaven begins at home.

2. The Trinity is a Relationship of Presence
In the first reading, God reveals Himself to Moses: "A merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."
God is not distant. He is not indifferent. He is not absent. Like the father in the burning house, God enters our suffering.
The Gospel tells us: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." God did not save us from a distance. He came close. He entered our broken world. He entered our fears, wounds, disappointments, and even death itself.
Many of us come to Mass carrying hidden struggles. Perhaps there is sickness in the family. Perhaps there is loneliness. Perhaps there is a burden nobody else knows.

The Feast of the Trinity reminds us: God does not stand outside our fire. He enters it. When we cannot carry our cross alone, the Father walks beside us, the Son carries it with us, and the Spirit strengthens us from within.

3. The Trinity is a Relationship of Unity in Diversity*
In today's second reading, St. Paul gives one of the most beautiful blessings in Scripture: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."
Love. Grace. Fellowship. Three distinct gifts. One divine life.
The Trinity teaches us that unity does not mean sameness. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father.
They are distinct, yet perfectly united in love.
This is the lesson our world desperately needs.
Families are different. Personalities are different. Generations are different. Some people are quiet. Others are outspoken. Some are emotional. Others are practical.
The problem begins when we try to change everyone into our own image.
A parent once told me: "Father, I want my son to become a doctor, but he never listens to me." I asked his son, "What do you want to become?" He replied, "An artist." Then I told the parent that you are expecting oranges from a mango tree.
The Trinity teaches us another way. The Father allows the Son to be the Son. The Son allows the Spirit to be the Spirit.
Each Person is different, yet deeply loved. Real love accepts before it corrects. Real love appreciates before it evaluates. Real love allows others to become who God created them to be.

My dear friends, the Trinity is not merely a doctrine in a catechism book.
The Trinity is a way of life.
The Father teaches us to affirm.
The Son teaches us to accompany.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to strengthen.

If we live these three qualities, affirmation, presence, and unity in diversity, our homes will begin to reflect the very life of God.

And every time we make the Sign of the Cross, let us remember:
We are not simply mentioning three divine names.
We are placing ourselves inside the embrace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.*
A God who loves us. A God who walks with us. A God who saves us. Amen.

~ Fr. Rex Jeba