Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Son

Trinity Sunday

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We know from other Gospel readings that Nicodemus went to speak with Jesus first under cover of darkness. It was his role to “break the ice” because he was the leading Pharisee in the group. He wouldn’t risk open association with Jesus, this strange but compelling teacher, until he had verified and tested his credentials. (You know: He verified Jesus had safe environment training and a clean driving record.)  We can be forever grateful to Nicodemus that he approached Jesus. For his courage, we thank, God, for taking this risk. His encounter with Jesus has left us with words that have been quoted lovingly among Christians ever since. The passage from John 3:16 is a thumbnail sketch of God’s initiative on our behalf.  “God so loved the world that He gave his only son.” Our entire life in return is a grateful response to God.

The response to “I love you” is ordinarily not “What do you want me to do about that?” It is “I love you, too,” followed spontaneously by evidence that we mean what we say.  Believing this way takes a lifetime for some, an instant for others. Time is irrelevant. From the moment we begin to want to believe in this way, we become truly Christian. It really is that simple.

Today we celebrate the reality of the Holy Trinity.  Our triune God is, of course, a mystery – an incomprehensible concept.  How is it that three Persons exist together in one trinity of being?  Thankfully, mysteries can be talked about. They can be described. They have clues that our minds can grasp. But a mystery remains a mystery unless and until we grasp it in its totality.  When it comes to God, we simply cannot grasp the total reality of God.

Mysteries, after all, are made up of clues that can be talked about.  In a mystery story the author gives hints, clues to piece together in order to see the whole picture. In God’s mystery story, the Holy Trinity, we have lots of clues. When we pursue them and piece them together, we get a good glimpse into what kind of a being our God is.  Our God is all about love. When we live in love we live in God, and God lives in us. Living in love, however, does not mean we all must be the same.  That’s not written anywhere.  The Father is a distinct Person, the Son is a distinct Person, and the Holy Spirit is a distinct Person. Distinct though they are, they exist in one being of infinite love; they exist in one unbreakable bond, in one infinite union of being together.

While that all remains a mystery to us, it is not so mysterious that we cannot live with each other in a reality of life that reflects and shares in the reality of God’s life. To live a God-like life we must build-up and affirm one another and see the best in each other.  We must be self-sacrificing and not self-centered. We must be giving rather than grasping, offering hope rather than mutual misery. We must seek to heal rather than rub salt on the wound.  It is in shared living that we not only belong but also where we discover, nurture, and affirm our own unique and individual personalities. It is in living the reality of being truly a family in Christ that we have a glimpse into the life of the Trinity: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There is story about one of the great theologians of the 20th Century, Karl Barth. When he was in New York for a conference, at the end of his talk he asked if anyone had any questions. He got a few questions about what he had been talking about, some theological questions that, quite frankly, were rather boring. Then someone asked Barth what in all his years of Biblical study was, for him, the greatest theological discovery he had made.  He was quiet for a moment, pondering and he then responded that there was one truth that really had become real to him as he spent more and more time studying scripture and trying to know God better. And that truth was, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

This one simple truth can be argued for children and yet has so much meaning and power. It is also the truth that one of the great theologians of this last century claimed as central to his whole understanding of theology.   This simple truth comes to us as a children’s song, “Jesus Loves Me This I Know”.

We all have different views about who God is and what God is like. Early on I fell in love with God the Spirit … always with me … touching me lightly on my head, holding my hand as I drift asleep.

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading: Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9             Second Reading: 2 Corintians 13:11-13
Gospel:  John 3:16-18
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Trinity Sunday

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What does this doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the kind of God we worship and the kind of people we should be?

The Gospel just proclaimed comes near the end of Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper and is an example of the implicit teaching on the Trinity.   Jesus tells his disciples that the Spirit will declare what the Spirit hears from Jesus.  Elsewhere Jesus says, “The Father and I are one.”  If Jesus and the Father are one and the Spirit speaks what Jesus says, it follows that the three must be one.  Further evidence found in Scripture regarding the doctrine of the Trinity is found in the other readings for the feast but if one expects today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Trinity – they will be disappointed.

The important question for us is: What does this doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the kind of God we worship and what does this say about the kind of people we should be?   With our three-fold vows, we are reminded of our commitment to a balance of prayer, labor and leisure.   We pray many times a day, in various ways, the familiar words of one of the first prayers many of us learned: the “Glory Be” in honor of, and thanksgiving for, the revelation of the Trinity:  Father, Son and Spirit.

This inner relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is such that each of them is fully and equally God, yet there are not three Gods but one God.  This is incomprehensible to the human mind. It is a mystery.  Together the three Persons in the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit represent the fullness of love. The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father. The Spirit is their love for each other. But love is only a word until someone gives it meaning.  We are made in the image of a triune God – God the Father, who created us, his Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who continues to guide us.  To be true to our calling we must be the ones who give meaning to Love in our world.  As Paul says in the second reading to the Romans: We did not receive the spirit of slavery, but of adoption …  we are heirs of God with Christ and destined to be glorified with him.”

On this Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, we are privileged, not merely in commemorating a doctrine, but in celebrating and entering into a communion of Persons who have loved us into being, redeemed us from ourselves, and continue to call us each day to a fuller experience, a deeper lived knowledge, of God. As long as we have our feet planted “this side of the grass” it makes sense that we might not be able to completely understand how something can be “one” and “three” at the same time.  One last comparison: Consider the egg you might have had for breakfast: yolk, white and shell – three parts, one egg.  Your personal interpretation will ultimately be your best guide, and the only answer you need.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31             Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel:  John 16:12-15
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“The Son – Who will take the Son?”

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I want to tell you a story – it’s been in my collection just waiting to be told.   I trust, in the end, you will see how it relates to this weekend’s Gospel selection

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They would often sit together and admire them.  When the conflict in the Mideast broke out and Desert Shield and Desert Storm were declared, the son went to war where he died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.  He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  I recall that he often talked about you, and your love for art.  I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this”.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. The father stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son. His eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.  A few months later the older man died. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.  On the platform sat the painting of the son. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?”

There was silence.  Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”  But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”  Another voice shouted angrily: “We didn’t come to see this painting. Get on with the real bids!”  But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime housekeeper of the man and his son. She bid her last penny.   “I’ll give $10 for the painting.”   The crowd shouted angrily: “Give it to her for $10. Let us see the works of the masters.”  The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!”  A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let’s get on with the collection!”

The crowd grew quiet; shocked when the auctioneer responded: “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. And, whoever bought that painting, would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.  The person who took the son, gets everything!”

Much like that auctioneer, God’s message today is: “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?”  Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

In our Gospel today the Son reminds us of his two-pronged commandment: love of God and love of neighbor.  When we accept the Son, we accept the responsibility, along with all the blessings, the Son offers us.  Part of our acceptance package, like the housekeeper-bidder in our story, is the “whole collection.”  It is not an easy choice but one we know is possible because we trust the words of Scripture.  In the writings of the Evangelist John we read: “My friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  God is love!  We love because God first loved us.”

What is your response when the auctioneer’s voice rings out in our assembly: “The Son – who will take the Son?”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Pray for a peaceful election season: Bless our nation in this time of great transition.

 

 

First Reading:   Deuteronomy 6:2-6         Second Reading:  Hebrews 7:23-28
Gospel:   Mark 12:28b-34

 

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Trinity Sunday

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On this, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, we celebrate the Church’s understanding of who God is: three unique, equal, divine persons in one God.  It is a celebration of our lived faith experience that we attempt to put into words.  We turn to the Scripture writers for a fuller understanding of this experience and for the ability to share the experience of God in our own lives.  I like Bishop Barron’s description, “The love that God the Father and the Son breathe back and forth is the Holy Spirit, the life of the church.”

But, nowhere in Scripture will you find a specific teaching of the Trinity.  However, we do find many places where the biblical experience of God is so rich that it cannot be encapsulated in a single word.  Jesus is the visible icon (as it were) of the invisible God, making the mystery of God tangible to us.  It is important that we believers have a welcoming attitude to the triune presence of God, so we are ready whenever, and through whomever, God chooses to continue to be revealed.  In this way we will be ready to listen to  and become involved in that dialogue.  Without the continued experience of Father, Son, and Spirit (or some may choose to say: Creator, Savior and Spirit) the doctrine ceases to be a lived experience.  But, if we expect today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, that simply will not be the case.  Ours is a God so generous… who loves us so much, that this whole world was created for us and continues to gift to us the gift of Self through the appearance of bread and wine.  Here is a God, generosity personified, who loves us beyond our wildest imaginings.

God wants us to discover this Love and celebrate it.  The fact is: God wants to be found and is constantly calling out to us – but not necessarily with words. He gives us so many opportunities – so many times when we travel through even the darkest tunnels of our lives and then come out the other side to encounter, unexpectedly, something surprisingly, great beauty and holiness.  As I came through the connector this past week, I found myself surprised and confounded by a glimpse of an awesome glorious dawn!  The words of Sirach spring to mind: “As the rising sun is clear to all!  How beautiful are all God’s works!  Even to the spark of a fleeting vision.”

As long as we have our feet planted on “this side of the grass” it makes sense that we might not be able to completely understand how something can be “one” and “three” at the same time.  We need symbols to help us delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Trinity e.g. St. Patrick’s shamrock or three-leafed clover … three leaves, one stem.  Or consider the egg you might have for breakfast: yolk, white and shell – three parts, one egg.  Or we might’ve heard the Trinity compared to an Apple….  ONE apple, three different parts: skin, flesh, and seed.

This is a feast, a solemnity beyond words.  The Holy Trinity is a privilege and not merely a commemoration of a doctrine.  Through the celebration the Trinity we enter into a communion of Persons who has loved us into being and continues to call us each day to a fuller experience, a deeper lived knowledge, of our Triune God.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-34. 30-40             Second Reading: Roman 8:14-17
Gospel:  Matthew 28:16-20
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Fourth Sunday of Lent

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What’s weighing heavy on your heart? I’m here. Let’s talk.

 

In John’s Gospel, the evangelist has (already before Lent) walked us through the story of the Wedding at Cana.  Jesus, at a nudge from his mother Mary, interacted with the servers who followed his directions to fill the empty stone jars with water, only to be mystified when the water turns into the best wine in the house.   Now, John is the only evangelist who relates this story.  And, he is exact in some details: there were six jars, each 2-3 feet tall, each holding 9-10 gallons. That’s approximately 55 gallons of wine – which makes for quite a wedding!

Last Sunday, we witnessed an interaction of a different sort.  Jesus calls a halt to the desecration of His father’s house, the temple in Jerusalem.  Today’s Gospel takes a leap that skips over an interaction that sets up today’s teaching.  In that gap, we hear about the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness.  Nicodemus was struggling with some big questions.  As he said to Jesus: “I know you came from God.  Maybe you can shed some light on my quandary.”

Puzzled by what Jesus says, Nicodemus questions how an old man can be born again???  Jesus cautions him: “Don’t be amazed that I told you, ‘you must be born from above.’”  Here comes a sentence that I love: “The wind blows where it wills, you hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.”  [Like Benedict said, Listen with the ear of your heart.”] Reminds me of a 70s folk song: “Blowin’ in the Wind” – “How many times must we look up before we can see the sky?  How many ears must we have before we can hear people cry?  The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.”

John reports that Jesus assures Nicodemus: “In all truth I tell you, we speak only about what we know and witness, what we have seen and heard.  And yet people reject our evidence.  If you do not believe me when I speak to you about earthly things, how will you believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things?”

Jesus calls Nicodemus’ attention to the story in the Book of Numbers, when the people were in the desert and they complained against God and Moses. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent … so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  John reminds us: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.  God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Today, I believe, God is telling us: “What’s happening today: natural disasters, people against people violence, starvation and selfishness, dread illness …   It’s a wake-up call.  Like I said to the prophet Isaiah, yea these many years ago:  “I am the designer and maker of the earth.” Remember in Genesis, at the creation of life on this earth, I looked on all that had been created, and I said: “It is good. …  For, I am God, there is no other.  I will not speak in secret nor from some dark place.  I did not say: Look for me in chaos.  I promise justice, ‘the public face of love’.  I speak the truth.  Turn to me and be safe.  Say: From God alone comes my strength and safety.”

God continues speaking to us.  “All time is temporary in My eyes until you rest in ME eternally.  Today I tell you, just as I welcomed a midnight conversation with Nicodemus, I am here – day or night – for you.  What’s on your mind or weighing heavy on your heart?  Let’s talk.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading:   2 Chronicles 36:14-16      Second Reading:  Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel:   John 3:14-21
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Trinity Sunday

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This past week, as you know, we returned to Ordinary Time.  However, it’s as if today the Church says: “Wait a minute – there IS one more idea we need to explore.  Let’s celebrate our Triune God.”

But if you expect today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Trinity, you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Scripture.  One writer has said if Jesus were to ask the question today, “Who do you say that I am?”, a modern theologian might answer: “Thou art the Logos, existing in the Father as His rationality and then, by an act of His will, being generated, in consideration of the various functions by which God is related to his creation, but only on the fact that Scripture speaks of a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Spirit, etc. etc.”  Jesus might have replied: “What’s that you say?”

We may not be able to understand the how of the Trinity, but it is important to understand the why.  The concept gives us a more personal, a more dynamic experience of God.  We are made in the image of God, and, therefore, the more we understand God the more we can understand ourselves.   The mystery of the Blessed Trinity tells us about the kind of God we worship and about the kind of people we should be.

Here is a generous God who loves us beyond our understanding! This whole world was created for us.  God gave us Himself in flesh, to suffer with us and die for us.  Here is a God so generous as to continue to offer Himself to us through the appearance of bread and wine.  Here is a God whose generosity spills over for us in gifts of wisdom and understanding, courage and piety, knowledge and counsel and fear of the Lord.  Here is a God who loves us beyond our wildest imaginings.

God wants us to discover this and celebrate it.  The fact is: God wants to be found and is constantly calling out to us. But he does not necessarily call out to us with words. We are given many opportunities; so many times, when we travel through even the darkest tunnels of our lives and then come out at the other side of the encounter to discover, unexpectedly, something surprising and beautiful and holy.  There is an example from this past week, when I came into the connector and was surprised by an awesome glorious red dawn!  Recall the reading earlier this week (from Sirach): “As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the Lord fills all His works.  How beautiful are all God’s works!  Even to the spark of a fleeting vision.”

Recall the analogy of a community to a three-legged stool.  As individuals in community, we need God and others.  The stool becomes lopsided or falls if any one leg is shortened or missing.  It takes all of us to make community: God, me and all our members.  Sometimes we may feel it really doesn’t matter if I miss an activity; that the meals, card games, choral prayer will still go on whether I am present or not.  And, it will!  And it will be done in your name.  There are legitimate reasons to be absent, but never, ever feel that your presence doesn’t count or is not important or significant.

A recent study reports that people between the ages 25 to 44 saw a nearly 30% increase in heart attack deaths over the first two years of the pandemic.  Another study tells us that people who experience prolonged feelings of loneliness are 26% more likely to suffer a heart attack.  So, let’s be on the watch for symptoms of loneliness in ourselves.  And, likewise, be on guard that we are inclusive of each other.

This celebration of the Trinity reminds us of the limitless possibilities of God.  Our god is One God, and cannot be contained but must co-exist as three persons. Let us seek out God in divine magnificent creativity, in all the manifestations as Father Mother as Sister Brother, as Counselor, Friend.  God is waiting for us.  Ours is a God who wants to be found.

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

First Reading: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9   Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Gospel Reading: John 3:16-18
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