Trinity Sunday

Our readings for Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday are:

1. Deuteronomy 4: 32-34, 39-40
2. Psalms 33: 4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
3. Romans 8: 14-17
4. Matthew 28: 16-20

1. Chosen
• In the course of any given day, what is it that you find yourself thinking and talking about most often?
• Would you say that concern is the most important thing in your life?
• How did that come to be the case?
• What does that say about your priorities?
• What does that say about your faith?
2. You're being watched
• As Catholics we have a strong tradition of Eucharistic adoration as a time to gaze upon the physical presence of Christ in our midst.  Do you think about the fact that He's looking back?
• Have you ever seen two lovers, their eyes gently resting on and in the gaze of the other, and wondered what was transpiring between them, how that moment, however short, was changing each of them?
• Do you think that it's possible for us to have those moments with Jesus?
• What difference does it make?
3. Suffering sucotash
• Suffering in this world seems to be a portal, a path to the intimacy of the Trinity.  Isn't there some other way?
• If suffering is so good for us, why take Tylenol?
• Is there anything wrong with "taking the edge off" with a few beers?
• Is there anything wrong with unplugging from life, ceasing to care, ceasing to hurt?
4. Go, you are sent
• Do you think that there is evangelization needed among those in the pews on Sunday?
• How would you tell a true disciple of Jesus if you saw one?
• Do you think that this discipleship thing is something that can be done by degrees?  Maybe if you're a 4th degree disciple you get to wear ostritch feathers (but only for ceremonial occasions)?
• How would we start such an evangelization?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. If I were to ask a close friend what was most important in my life, what would they say?
2. Am I willing to just rest in the presence of God?
3. Can I believe God for being there with and through suffering?
4. Am I willing to suffer that others may come to know Christ?

Holy Hour

Here I am Jesus.
Not entirely sure what's supposed to happen,
But I'm up for anything at this point.

You sound worn out,
Sad,
Tired.  Talk to me.

Oh, nothing a good night's sleep won't cure.
I just can't seem to turn it off.
All this stuff swirling around all the time.

You call it "stuff"
Like it's debris left over from building something worthwhile,
As though all that's left now is bits of scrap lumber, broken masonry, things to clean up.

O no, nothing like that.  You see my work, it's so demanding.
The end of the day never really comes,
I bring my work home with me in ways that keep me all knoted up.

Frustrated?
Unable to do what you long to?
Unable to be who you long to?  Shackled?

Well, that's just the cost of this sort of work.
Everyone else on the team just bears down, takes the burdens, soldiers on.
Maybe I'm getting too old for this.

You were born too old for this.
I loved you into being that your work might be a celebration.
I breathed life into you that you might breathe it into others.

Yeah, well, that doesn't pay the rent,
It's not what I'm trained for,
This makes no sense.

Let me invite you into another sense of sense.
I see in you so much potential, for so much joy.
Do you think that you can just rest in that gaze awhile?

Yeah, I guess so.  We're running out of time you know.
12 minutes left on this hour, but sure,
I feel as though I'm willing to try just about anything at this point.

God, you still there?  I'm not hearing anything!
Shh.  I'm loving you.
Ooooooh ...

Shalom!