Solemnity of the Holy Trinity (Faith, Hope and Love)

After being here almost 11 years, you know by now that I seldom speak about myself in my homilies. Part of the reason is that I am fairly private. Another reason is that I think it's not really all that interesting. But the main reason is that my job is primarily to preach Jesus Christ, not myself.

          Having said that, as most of you know, I was on vacation visiting family this past week. This usually involves a lot of movement from one place to another, from one town to another. I found myself on Saturday morning realizing that I did not have a homily for today. In desperation I looked through my homilies from past years for this solemnity and one after another, they seemed unsuitable to reuse. Nonetheless, I chose the one I thought held the most promise and was resigned to use it today….that was until I sat in the confessional for an hour this morning and the Holy Spirit told me, “No, that one is not suitable either. I have something else for you to share”.

          In that moment I realized I was being called to reflect upon the Holy Trinity in association with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the distinct ways that she related to each Divine Person of the Holy Trinity. Further, I started thinking about prayers that are said in the Rosary, asking to be strengthened in the Theological Virtues of faith, hope and love.

I love the way that the petition for Mary’s prayers are made in Hispanic culture. First, asking her for stronger faith: Para que se aumente nuestra fe: Dios te salve Maria Santísima, hija de Dios Padre y Virgen Purísima antes del parto; en tus manos ponemos nuestra fe para que la ilumines….

(translated: Daughter of God the Father and purest Virgin before giving birth; in your hands we put our faith so that you illuminate it....)

In asking for stronger faith and to illuminate it, it identifies Mary as “daughter of God the Father”.

I remind us that faith, in this context, is the awareness that we are made by loving Creator, whose image we bear. Therefore, we are never alone. It also acknowledges that He desires for us to be with Him forever. Further, it’s belief that God gave us this Church to help us know these truths.

And so, the prayer, the Act of Faith declares:

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.

Second, asking for stronger hope: Para que se aumente nuestra esperanza: Dios te salve Maria Santísima, Madre de Dios hijo y Virgen Purísima en el parto; en tus manos ponemos nuestra esperanza para que la alientes….

(translated: Mother of God the Son and purest Virgin in childbirth; in your hands we put our hope for you to encourage/inspire it....)

          In asking for stronger hope and to inspire it, it identifies Mary as “mother of God the Son”. Where faith acknowledges truths placed in our hearts and entrusted to the Church, hope is the awareness that God, in His mercy, will keep helping us to move toward His promises of eternal life.

And so, the prayer, the Act of Hope declares:

O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins and after life here to gain eternal happiness because you have promised it who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.

Third, asking for a stronger capacity to love: Para que se aumente nuestra caridad: Dios te salve Maria Santísima, Esposa de Dios Espíritu y Virgen Purísima después del parto; en tus manos ponemos nuestra caridad para que la inflames…

(translated: Spouse of God the Holy Spirit and purest Virgin after giving birth; in your hands we put our love so that you inflame it....)

In asking for stronger capacity to love and to inflame it, it identifies Mary as “spouse of God the Holy Spirit”. As St. Paul tells us, in the end, three things will remain: faith, hope and love…and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13).

As I mentioned, I was in Indiana visiting family this past week. I had the chance to visit my sister's burial site for the first time since we buried her in November. I have a feeling I never told you that she died. Her name is Amy. On Wednesday, the third day of my trip, I was able to see my brother, Scott. We visited for about an hour and went to lunch. Soon after we arrived at the restaurant, he collapsed onto the bathroom floor. I found him and called for an ambulance. Although I felt him breathing, he was unresponsive. I remained on the floor with him until paramedics came and worked to resuscitate him. Unsuccessful in this, they rushed him to the hospital where he died about an hour later. I was grateful to be with him in that moment too. I will return to Indiana on Friday to attend his funeral on Saturday.

          As I look out at all of you, I bear in mind how many of you have been through challenging circumstances with your loved ones. I further bear in mind how privileged I have been to accompany many of you in such circumstances. Again, I’m usually reluctant to share such details, for reasons I already mentioned. But I also remind myself that as you have allowed me to share in your challenges, I should not be altogether resistant to allow you to share in mine. As your pastor, you all are entrusted to me, but in some ways, I have been entrusted to you as well. And so, I ask for your prayers at this time, especially for my mother and father.

And so, the prayer, the Act of Love declares:

O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.

As the Spanish prayers I’ve quoted reveal, as we ask Mary that we might be strengthened in the Theological Virtues—but also as we consider her distinct relationship with each Divine Person of the Most Holy Trinity—we consider how this is true for us as well: as sons and daughters of God the Father; as brothers and sisters of God the Son; and as temples of God the Holy Spirit.

          Finally, I realize I dropped something heavy into your lap, speaking about my family. And I would not want to cast myself as a pitiable figure. Even in what I’ve recently faced, I’m deeply blessed and recognize many causes for joy and gratitude. Our faith tells us that while we must love the people in our lives, we must not become so attached to them or anything of this life, that our happiness depends on it. All things are fleeting and finite. We were made for still more.

          Thank goodness for what our faith tells us, especially in the face of such challenges, and especially in death. What we are doing in this moment, this Mass, is where our hope becomes manifest, as things of heaven and earth come together, and we receive, in the Body and Blood of Jesus, God’s living pledge of His love and His promises.