Each of us has a deep longing in our hearts: to love and be loved. Pope Francis said that the ideal of love is “the most authentic desire of our hearts.” The Holy Trinity is love itself: an eternal exchange of love between God the Father and His Beloved Son. The Holy Spirit, “who proceeds from the Father and the Son” (Nicene Creed), is the result of this fruitful and creative love between God the…
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. – Matthew 17:1-2 Our Lenten adventure includes a mountain hike this Sunday! We follow Jesus, Peter, James, and John as they climb the mountain of encounter with the Holy Trinity. A theophany is a manifestation of God, a direct…
The Pharisees are at it again in this week’s Gospel reading. This time, they asked Jesus if it was against God’s law to pay the census tax to Caesar. Once again, they tried to trick Jesus into betraying Himself. But Jesus always sees the truth. He is the truth (John 14:6). Jesus asked them to show Him the coin to pay the tax and asked, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” (Matthew 22: 20).…
Grace, love, and fellowship: these are key blessings of our Trinitarian God. In today’s second reading, St. Paul ends his epistle by extending God’s trifold blessings to the Church in Corinth: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Corinthians 13:13). The grace of Christ is God’s life living inside of us. It’s God’s supreme gift to us:…
The Transfiguration of the Lord shows a powerful manifestation of the Holy Trinity. Peter, James, and John go with Jesus to Mt. Tabor to pray, and Jesus is transfigured: “his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white” (Lk 9:29). The glory of the Risen Christ was revealed. The veil of His humanity was lifted, showing His divine nature: “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). The transfigured Jesus is light…