May
18, 2008
Trinity:
It's About Unity
The
Lord has done great things for us.
If you’re at mass in the church this Sunday, you’ll notice
the large banners taken from Mary’s prayer, the Magnificat: “The
Lord has done great things for us, Holy is his name!”
These banners have a bit of history. My college friends made these banners
for me when I was ordained to be used at the first mass I celebrated
as a priest. I’ve kept them over the years and thought they would
be fitting for the anniversary mass I’m celebrating and for the
month of May, which is dedicated to Mary.
I’m glad to be able to share them with you.
Indeed the Lord HAS done great things for us and I invite you to take
some time this week to pray to God, the Holy Trinity, to thank God for
the many gifts we have been given in life.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past
Columns:
May 11: We are
One in the Spirit
May 4: Who's in
Your Top Twelve?
April 27: Now
that he's gone...
April 20: Yay
Deacons!
April
13: Here comes the Pope
April 6: Fresh Oil
March 30: What are you doing
for Easter?
March 23: Can Easter come
too early?
March 16: Which crowd is
yours?
March 9: We believe, yet...
March 2: Oil or Mud
February
24: What are you thirsting for?
February 17: Who are You
Wearing?
February 10: Just Say No
February
3: The January
20: Being Safer
January 13: Conversations
in 2008
January 6: Matthew's Magi
December 30:
What's
Next?
Christmas
2007 Homily
Columns
from 2007
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns
from 2003
Columns from 2002
As
we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, I can’t but help to
think about our upcoming Parish gathering on Sunday, June 1st which is
entitled, “We are One Body in Christ: Sharing
the Vision of Saint Brigid.” The afternoon (4pm
to 5:54pm in Code Auditorium) is planned to be a chance for parishioners
to grow in their knowledge of one another and an opportunity to share
some hopes for the future of our parish.
It’s about unity. We know
that we’re created in God’s image and we know that God is
one -- yet is three persons. Our parish “images” God because
even though we are many persons, we strive to love and act as one people
who are united in Christ.
What we have in common trumps what
makes us different. Yet what makes us different is an expression of the
Holy Spirit’s gifts, so we don’t really consider our diverse
talents, diverse experiences, diverse languages, diverse customs to be
divisive. No, on the contrary, when seen through perspective of the Trinity,
we’re like one stunning stained glass window that reveals God’s
glory shining through us.
This image is heightened a bit more for me this weekend as I celebrate
my 25th anniversary with members of my family and people from the different
parishes I have served in. Each parish I’ve been in considers itself
to be “among the best” (well they are!!) yet, from the long
view, each community is just one part of the larger community of the church,
united in Christ. It’s as if each community is one piece of the
larger stained glass window. And I’ve been privileged to be etched
into each of those pieces.
And the people I’ve ministered
to in each community have been etched into my heart.
I extend an invitation to all the people of Saint Brigid’s to come
to the June 1st event and
see how they fit into the big picture of parish. The Pastoral Council
which is hosting the event has planned the afternoon to be a fun and informal
time. Babysitting is available -- if you’re taking advantage of
this service, please arrive by 3:45 so you’ll be ready to start
at 4pm. And yes, we will start at 4pm (come on time) and finish at 4:54
-- just enough time for people to get to the 6pm mass!
