https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052624.cfm
The Blessed Trinity – A Real Encounter
I have to admit that when I started praying and thinking about the Feast of the Blessed Trinity, I couldn’t help but think about how much I pray to the Father and Jesus. These thoughts and prayers are very spiritual and beautiful, but how much do I, do we, pray to the Holy Spirit?
I am sure many of you, like me, pray much more to Mother Mary and many saints than calling on the Holy Spirit. Think, too, how many more songs there are to Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Why is the Holy Spirit neglected, not purposefully, I am sure?
I believe our answer is in the feast we are celebrating today, the Feast of the Blessed Trinity. We believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Think how many times a day we make the Sign of the Cross at the beginning and end of our prayers. As a kid, I remember driving past St. Mary’s, our Catholic Church near our home, with my Mom or Dad and making the sign of the Cross each time. Why? Because Jesus was in the Tabernacle.
We believe in One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We make the Profession of Faith at Mass and before the Holy Rosary – I believe in One God. It may sound simple, but when I pray to God, even if I am not thinking of one or another Person, I am praying to all Three.
I find it easy to pray to Jesus, seeing His face. One of my favorite times is seeing Him sitting in a massive meadow under a beautiful oak tree. As I approach Him, He smiles at me, and I sit beside Him, laying my head on His shoulder, much like St. John did at the Last Supper. Guess what? It is the Holy Spirit in my spirit making that encounter real to me. It’s more than imagination. It’s communion with Jesus in my heart, where I love Him more than anything.
The Holy Spirit is never about making Himself important or even noticed. He is God; like Jesus, it’s all about who they are with, not themselves. I find God does amazing things for people when I follow in their footsteps. Right now, you are all important to me. You are all that matters to me. That is true, please God, whoever I am with. I pray for this grace every morning.
So, my brothers and sisters, let us never think that if we pray to One of the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, we neglect the other Two. Never. We pray to all Three Persons at the same time. We receive three times the graces because we are with all Three: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can’t separate them and don’t have to pray three times to be with each one. The same is true when we visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament chapel during the day or evening. We are visiting all Three. Three is better than one.
Gospel Challenge:
Please, don’t think we can ever understand this mystery. Encountering the Persons of the Trinity and becoming a stronger and better person because of that encounter beats understanding any day of the week. Find a place under a tree, on the beach, or wherever God is in your heart, and be with our Amazing God. Welcome the Holy Spirit to pray in you.
Come Holy Spirit, and don’t forget to Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
