CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF OUR GOD:

If there is any feast that directly teaches us about God, it is the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity. As Catholics, we can easily spot other Catholics by their faith in the Trinity. The quiet gesture of someone making the Sign of the Cross reminds that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How often we see people surrender to this God as they trace the cross on themselves in moments of joy, life, adventure, death, sickness and daily prayer.

This Sign of the Cross is the sign of our faith in the uniqueness of our God; He is one and three, the three are but one. In one God, we find a loving Father, we find our brother in the person of Jesus, and we find the perfect gift for our lives in the person of the Holy Spirit. This is neither easy to understand nor to explain. But it is easy to experience because our God is available to all.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shows us the connection between the Father and the Son; a common love for humanity binds them. The Father sends his only Son into the world, not to condemn but to save the world. Jesus, God’s Son, lives among us, and dies for us, to dramatize the seriousness of the Father’s love (Jn. 3:16). The Father gives us the treasure of his heart, even if it is difficult to let go of his Son on the cross. But this is not the end of the story. Finally, when Jesus returns to the Father, there was yet another gift, a friend and companion, the Holy Spirit.

On the cross, God gives us his Son. On the cross, Jesus gives us his Spirit (cf. Jn. 19:30). This giving of love continues today as we receive the sacraments, as we are touched by grace, as we join in efforts to serve the needy. God’s Spirit connects us to the love of the Father and the Son. This is the story of our God and the story of the greatest love of all – God reaching out to us in the Person of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many people rebel against this mystery and doctrine of the Trinity for how can you explain one is three and three are one? If we resort to mathematics, logic and mere human relations, it is not possible to fully under stand this. But if we open our hearts to experience the love of God shown in the Bible and illustrated on the Cross, the complex mystery becomes as simple as making the Sign of the Cross. In the Sign of the Cross, we are embraced by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and we become stronger and more courageous.

May this be our constant prayer which all the saints and angels continuously sing in heaven! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. AMEN. The Cost of Discipleship: To understand and practice the way of life of discipleship fully, people need models to imitate. They exist in abundance, in the lives of the holy men and women who have gone before us in the faith, but our supreme source of guidance is found in the person and teaching of Jesus. Let us reflect on what He tells us about stewardship.

This week on Monday, June 12, the Philippines, where I was born and raised, celebrates her 121st anniversary of Independence. “Viva! Las Islas de Filipinas Viva! Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas!!! On the 13th, we have the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, the Patron Saint who help many of his devotees find easily their lost loved ones and even precious possessions. On the 14th, it is Flag Day. Let us always respect and love our National Flag. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin. God Bless!

Your Priest –

Servant and Parochial Administrator,

Fr. Reggie