Mystery of the Trinity

Friends of Faith:

I think Ascension and Pentecost rival Easter and Christmas as Holy days – or maybe I should say I realize that it is as necessary to celebrate them in order to fulfill the Christian Church’s very existence and God’s gift of eternal life for each of us.

Jesus’ birth, death and rising give us the promise of eternal life. His ascension into Heaven and his sending of the Hoy Spirit guides us to the fulfillment of that very life. Without any part we would have lost a piece of a puzzle without which we could not be completed.  They are the fulfillment of the mystery of the Holy and Divine Trinity.

Just as Jesus took care of us, we are called to take care of others—to care more about each other than ourselves, to live not to gratify me, but to gratify and support each other.

“Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. Gal 5:16-25

Our human nature makes us sinful, and yet through God’s infinite grace and mercy he gives us the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Spirit to complete us. He knew even in creating us in his likeness that we would need both example and gift so that we could eventually come back to Him—the example of selfishly serving each other through the grace and gifts of the Spirit.

“But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5: 16-25

Wow—can’t we as Christians see these faults in others, aka society (in law, in politics, in the culture.) And I don’t have to look very deeply into myself to see my own faults. No one person or culture is “exempt” from the temptations. All of us at some time or another have failed to keep our tempers, have told a lie or have done something that is more about what’s good for me than about what’s good for society as a whole.

It’s not a "judgment" to look around and realize our faults and the faults of others, it is more of a review of what is and what should be, of determining right from wrong, good from evil, of how we should change our daily lives to help others and to help others learn the truth. (We cannot however judge God’s mercy, forgiveness or condemnation.)This is the Spirit working within us, allowing us to evangelize and live our Christian faith, values and morals as an example to others.

“In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” Gal 5: 16-25

The Holy Spirit is what guides us to discern what is from God and what the temptations of the world are that lead us away from God. The reward of the fruits of the Spirit may be given to us personally or because of our example the entire Christian community may grow when it sees how our faith helps us to overcome the sacrifice and sufferings of daily life.

I think the Saints (apostles and modern day disciples like Dorothy Day, JPII and Mother Theresa) are most “rewarded” when we follow their example and study their lives—when we strive to learn and live as they themselves did by living with less and giving more of our time, talents and treasures to others.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

We are called to live in the Trinity, in the reception of the Spirit, in the mystery of living and dying through faith by protecting and treating with dignity every life (born and unborn) (legal and illegal) (sinner and saint).

God’s law cannot be enforced politically—rather we must each strive to live not for ourselves but for the common good of others.

Renew in us our faith,

Blessings,
Charlotte

 

Community of Support

Friends of Faith:

I could say that the past three weekends have been an insight into the meaning of“community of support,” but what I realize is that it isn’t just one day, or one weekend, but rather it is everyday and every hour that my “yoke is made easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:30) by the community of support God has placed around me.

Three weeks ago at the Valentine’s Date Night Archbishop Jackel’s instructed us as couples that it is our vocational calling as married individuals to “do whatever we can to help our spouses become holy.” Over the past two weekends”new CEW (Christian Experience Weekend) candidates were summoned to “go, make a difference.”

 

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ …He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ Mt 25: 31-46

 

Daily I am reminded that I couldn’t be who I am without the help of those around me: Stan, family, my co-workers, customers, neighbors and friends who lend a helping hand and those who I don’t even know that pray for my spiritual, emotional and material needs.

 

God’s original and ultimate call to us as Christians is simple: to help and support each other – in every way possible – no matter what it takes, including our own sacrifice and suffering – just as He himself sacrificed by giving us His only son, Jesus who in turn suffered death on the cross for our sins (not his own).

 

Jesus Christ knew that his words alone would not carry forth without the Institution of the Church, and the Institution of the Priesthood—without the support of community.

 

“Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness….The Commissioning of the Twelve. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Mt 10: 1-8

 

And in nearly every passage of the New Testament it is not just Jesus, or just one disciple who went forth to teach or preach, but rather they went together in small groups to share the message and to help one or another. Jesus is often heard asking the Apostles, “Come, follow me.”

 

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Mt 18:20

 

So too are we called to ask so that we may receive: First for God’s help – but then also for the help of the faith community around us – to gather two by two – in His name.

 

I know from not only the recent 10 months but from many times in the past I could not have survived or achieved without the help of God and others: first I call upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit which sustain me; next I have been given the gift of a spouse, Stan, who supports and serves me as much as humanly possible through the vocational calling of our marriage vows; and thirdly I have been placed by my baptism within a community of support—the Church—where together in faith we are joined with each other, and with the Saints and all who have gone before us (Rev 8: 3-4), to support each other in prayer, by listening ears and with helping hands.

 

Heavenly Father, Your creation of “two” is infinitely powerful. Thank you for each and every person you have placed in my community of support. Help me to also become more like you by being willing to give up my time and talents for those around me. May I become yours to serve in this community of support. Amen.

 

God in his infinite wisdom joins us together by our baptism into the Church, teaching us how to become reliant on one other.

 

From the creation of Eve as a helpmate to her spouse, Adam; to Christ’s search for and commissioning of the apostles as Priests; to our Christian community today –without each other we cannot survive (quite literally through the procreation/birth of humanity). And without the love and support of God and those He has created for us to help us we will wither and die.

 

So as individualistic as society seems to want us to be—we survive because of what God (divinely) and someone else (humanly) provides since none of us would be here without at least two others, our parents (so God created marriage).

 

I am called to make it my mission to share and become a part of His community of support by answering God’s call: to know Him, to Love Him and to serve Him (through you) rigorously and continuously.

 

I pray in hope that each of You will continue to grow to become a bigger part of His mission daily,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Community of Faith

Friends of Faith:

As I listen to the readings from the Acts of the Apostles during this Easter season I am reminded how the first disciples of Jesus worked together and joined “in community” and joined “within the” communities to spread Christianity, the gospel, and form the first church: a church which has stood firm for over 2000 years.

The original unity (community) was with God and Adam and then with God, Adam and Eve. Original sin caused a separation of that original unity; a separation that only Jesus Christ could reunite by his mediation in becoming both human and divine. In his humanity he directed the apostles to form the original church and by His divinity he gave us the sacraments which allow us to receive His grace thus restoring original unity.

When Jesus died he promised that he would not leave the apostles alone so the Holy Spirit remains to guide them and us to build an ordered church, a community of faith, through the witness of his disciples. As Christians we are all called to become active participants, witnesses, within this universal church community and by our example to bring Christ to others.

“… the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses ….to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1: 8

Most of the apostles died martyrs for their beliefs. None of them took credit for their own actions, but rather were miraculously changed by following Christ. As Christians our call is to share in this same life changing experience and to bring others to share in it as well.

The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles (as in ordination) giving them the gift of speaking in tongues so that all could hear the gospel message regardless of the dialect they spoke, and so that no one would be left out of the opportunity to be a part of Christ’s church. The apostles also received the charisma to heal and drive out demons along with performing other signs and wonders.

Just as God made himself visible to us through His son, Jesus; Jesus makes himself visible to us through the Church and the sacraments given to the Church as an outward sign of His invisible grace.

Two other things come to mind when I use the word community: common unity and communion. God the Father and creator has given us a common unity to work towards a common goal which is intended to move us forward to original unity (heaven) and a common universal Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, to instruct and form us in God’s design. He also gives us himself as a common food to nourish us with spiritual energy (his Son, Jesus, in the sacrifice of the Eucharist—aka Communion). Together these “common”alities fill us with His grace and perseverance.

Unfortunately what is also common amongst us in our human nature is the desire to sin. Sin and the devil’s temptation which attempts to keep me away from this unifying community: a nature which feeds me a lie that I can do it myself and that I make my own destiny.

The fact is regardless of what science wants me to believe, humanity cannot survive, cannot continue, without being in communion with Him AS He designed it—the natural order. The foundational community is that of family: the first union was between Adam and Eve, man and woman, husband and wife. And the continuation of God’s children flows from this family unit, the domestic Church, through our unity with God.

We promise to God to love Him AS He loves us, and that is to “love one another AS he loves us.” It takes each of us in covenant with Him to put this command into practice.  If I truly care about unifying God’s people I will put aside my selfish desires and help others in any way I can (regardless of social status): by giving my time in prayer, my talent in service and my treasure to financially support the poor through Christian organizations which give in areas where I cannot.

And by God’s design His community is built by our manifestation of joy and peace within the world. Our actions, our priorities, and our mannerisms towards others will proclaim the Gospel to others much louder than our words.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Jn 6: 35-37.

Building His community requires energy: both human and spiritual food, so that we will never hunger or thirst. Just like I need food in my body every day, I also need the spiritual food found in the grace received through the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Heavenly Father, I place my trust in you. You know my goal, to be in union with you. You know my community of faith, I ask for your blessings on them. Continue to provide us, Your faith community, with Your encouragement to live Your way, in Your Truth and with the hope of Your Eternal Life. Amen.

God designed us so that we wouldn’t be alone in striving for his goal. By our baptism we become members of His community who are called to go out, be His disciples (students), and bring peace, love and joy to others by spreading the Gospel message. We are called to make disciples of all nations by bringing others to be a part of His Christian community, the Church.

Blessings as you join in and spread His community of faith,

Charlotte