Jesus said, "Who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said, "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, each member of the Trinity being coequal with every other member, and each acting inseparablybut causing no division which would make the substance no longer simple."
And Jesus answering, said, "What?"
Following the Easter season, Ascension and Pentecost, the Catholic Church celebrates Trinity Sunday, followed by Corpus Christi Sunday. There is subject enough here for several volumes, but today I wish to reflect on a few simple truths.
In sketching a pastoral theology of absence, Henri Nouen reminds us that our deepest awareness of God often occurs when God is felt to be absent. We know this to be true with someone we love - absence makes us aware of the deepness of our love. Would that we longed for God in that way!
A deeper understanding of the Father is possible only after we study the message of the Son. Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father to us. Christ also came to reconcile us to the Father, an ongoing task we are a part of.
Meister Eckhart said, "Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion. The "outburst" of love we receive from the life and sacrifice of Christ makes this truth believable. What a consoling thought for the sinner, for us!
The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ is where we find sustenance for the trials of our daily journey. Mother Teresa said: "If we really understand the Eucharist, if we really centre our lives on Jesus' Body and Blood, if we nourish our lives with the Bread of the Eucharist, it will be easy for us to see Christ in [others]For in them, we will recognise the distressing disguises of the poor: Jesus in our midst." "People ask, 'Where do the sisters get the joy and energy to do what they are doing?'
When the Sisters are exhaustedthey spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This practice has never failed to bear fruit: they experience peace and strength."I will let Mother Teresa's words conclude: Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the cross. Jesus is the sacrifice offered at holy Mass for the sins of the world and for mine. Jesus is the Word-to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth-to be told. Jesus is the Way-to be walked. Jesus is the Light-to be lit. Jesus is the Life-to be lived. Jesus is the Love-to be loved."
