The Feast of the Holy Trinity we celebrate today is total mystery and is not clearly explained in the Bible. Our belief has been coined by the early Church based on data from the Sacred Scriptures. Jesus prayed to the Father and promised to send the Holy Spirit; thus revealing the Trinitarian mystery.

These wounds are a gift because they help us realize we have been loved and they we are called to love again. Let us follow the example of our Savior and give the Spirit of love to those in need. By our wounds, we and others are healed.

As members of the Body of Christ and with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, we are all called to be Jesus’ witnesses or spiritual martyrs. Just as St. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirt, so are you!

Without remembrance, it’s easy to lose focus on the journey toward the great, high city. The vision becomes dull. Love of self takes over. But then the Spirit reminds of Christ’s love, and we are once again impelled to join the community of believers on the way to the Father.

Whether you make it a command or make it a threat, the problem remains: how can you order someone to love? Jesus says we must, so it has to be possible. But how?

As the good shepherd, Jesus goes beyond being a hired hand who only works for pay. Jesus cares for, protects, and defends his sheep because he truly loves them and, even more importantly, because they are a gift from the Father – entrusted to Jesus’ care and safekeeping.

The grace of the resurrection was given to Peter by Jesus, and that grace was brought to completion by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which enabled weak, imperfect Peter to become a sincere lover of Jesus. Peter gives us hope that we too can reconcile our weaknesses into moments of grace and transformation.

As we celebrate Easter this year , there are so many people who are hurting, including ourselves at times,. We are called to treat them with love and care as Jesus did. We need to be willing to hear their stories and, like Thomas, touch their wounds.

The triumph of Jesus-God was that he saved human beings despite themselves. More accurately, he made salvation possible for them. Now the real battle began ... the battle to make the possibility of salvation a reality for each individual.

This day, we remember Christ’s journey to the cross. We remember our role in his passion – our own sinfulness. He lifts us up, redeems us and restores our dignity. It is to more fully experience all that this love of God has done for us that we participate in the prayer and worship of this solemn holy week.