This weekend, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we are invited to reflect deeply on the central mystery of our faith: the loving relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is not just a theological concept but a revelation of God as a community of love. As St. Augustine beautifully articulated, “The Father and the Son are one: the Father in the Son, and the Son in the Father; this is the love of the Spirit” (De Trinitate, XV, 19.37). Augustine saw the Father as the lover and the Son as the beloved and the love that flows between them as the Holy Spirit. This profound unity is the model for our relationships with one another.
At the heart of the Trinity is a dynamic and eternal exchange of love between the Father and the Son, and the love that flows between them is none other than the Holy Spirit. It is this divine love that created the world and sustains it, and it is this love to which we are called to participate. Our understanding of God’s nature should fundamentally shape how we interact with one another, calling us into a similar loving, divine relationship with each other.
In John 15:15, Jesus tells His disciples, “I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends.” This declaration illuminates the depth of relationship to which Jesus calls us—not as distant worshippers but as friends deeply loved by God. As friends of Jesus, we are invited to mirror the inner life of the Trinity in our daily interactions. The quality of ‘friendship’ in our relationships is crucial; it transforms our connections from mere acquaintances to bonds marked by sincerity, mutual respect, and genuine care.
Emulating the Trinity, our relationships should be characterized by a self-giving and receiving love. Just as the Trinity exists in a perpetual giving of love from one to the other, we too are called to live out this cycle of love. This call challenges us to view every person as a potential friend, someone deeply loved by God, deserving of our respect, kindness, and compassion. So how do we do that, especially inside our own families where tensions can often arise?
One way we can do this is to genuinely “pay attention” to the other person. Not just to their words but the desires and needs behind those words. Often what we say is only the tip of the iceberg and our words fail to communicate the real desires of our hearts. If we can listen to each other in deeper ways, then we can come to understand the desires of the “heart.” That phrase “pay attention” is translated so differently in other languages around the world and often has no direct translation, but rather “look at me” or “listen to me” as it does in Gaelic as “give or hold my ear.”
What if we live the Trinity by “paying attention” or “listening to others” or “seeing them” and their greatest desires? This is what it means to love—to really listen and see the other person. Yes. That would be so awesome. We wouldn’t just smile at each other as we greet each other, but genuinely “see” and “listen” to each other. As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend and we remember all those who gave their lives in service to our country and the many sacrifices they made for our freedom, may we honor them by listening to the stories we share of them, and really being present to the memories.
Finally, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Planting Project under the palm trees last weekend. It looks fantastic and now we will use less water. We thank Mary Dateo for her landscape design and for managing the event, Michelle Nealon for coordinating, and Victor Ramirez for his help. Also, yesterday we had our annual Rock-A-Thon return at the school. Thanks to the chairs, Michelle Duchesne, Elisa Tejeda, and Suzzy McLean. All the students walked around campus to the sound of lively music and had a blast doing so. And they raised over $30,000 for the Endowment for Tuition Assistance! Awesome. Thank you to all who supported the students with your sponsorship, namely Elderberry Capital, Maison Digital, Rob Mibach, SageSure, and Ace Han.
As we come together this weekend to worship and celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity, let us strive to reflect the divine love we worship. Let every interaction be a mirror of the Trinity’s love, showing the world the beauty of divine friendship. May our community be a testament to the loving relationship that defines the very nature of God, inspiring all to love as friends, with hearts open to the transforming power of the Spirit. Smile, see and listen to each other.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan