Questions of the Week: What are some things you can know about God through reason alone? What are some things we know of God through Revelation?
How Wonderful it is to see you—even partially veiled!
This past week, we began opening the Church for public Masses. We had wonderful gatherings to celebrate baptisms, confirmations, and First Eucharists with those who have been journeying with us through RCIA, and a number of our young people (7) were also confirmed on Pentecost. There was a great deal of joy and it continued into Monday for our first public Masses since our closure in mid-March.
Many of you have watched the Mass streamed online since March, and have grown hungry for the non-virtual reality of being with Jesus. The streamed Mass was reaching far beyond our own parishioners. That is interesting to consider. The TV or computer screen has acted as a sacramental conduit of the live Mass, and the Lord certainly honored your participation in that manner. But such participation is more difficult. Many of you said to me, “Father, it is not the same as the real thing!”
No it is not.
I too—as I looked out to the empty Church—had to imagine all of you through the camera. I knew many of you were with me as I celebrated Mass—but it was heartbreaking.
In some ways, what we have just experienced is a reminder of the good things of the world to come. This world is the shadow land, as C. S. Lewis put it. It is good— but transitory. We see dimly now, as in a mirror, but then face to face! We know God partially, for the full reality of God is veiled to us. Yet, the more we ponder and look upon the face of Jesus Christ revealed to us in the Scriptures and in the Church, and in the Sacraments, Almighty God, hidden in mystery comes into greater focus and light. The veil thins and the deeper reality of the Triune God shines forth. We begin to taste the REAL! But it will only be ours when we cross the veil of this world to the next. Then, we will be enabled by God to look up His glory, and participate directly in His Divine Life. The Sacraments will no longer be needed.
And so, we wait and we pray for that day.
And with faith, hope, and love we participate as best we can in the means God has given us to be united to Him now. We read and ponder the Sacred Scriptures; we take part in the Sacraments that are true encounters with God. We give God thanks and appreciate how good it is to be able to gather again as His people and grow in love of God and one another, whether that be in Church, or in small groups, or even online in virtual communities. That is becoming a new way for us to connect. It is the new place for meeting the Lord.
For a time, we are going to be limited to 150 people per Mass if we are inside.
Outside is another matter. The wind disperses the virus if present and the sun’s radiation destroys it more quickly. Outside is safer for large gatherings. Masks are not as important outside as they are inside, where the virus can linger in the enclosed space.
We will be doing all we can to keep the Church sanitized, clean, and safe for everyone, and I want to thank all those who have been coming to our indoor Masses for wearing masks. It is an act of sacrifice and love. Some of you may feel it is unnecessary, which makes it all the more sacrificial and penitential for you. Everything done in love brings a blessing and peace to our troubled world. Mary, our Blessed Mother has constantly urged us to pray the rosary and to do penance for conversions. Wearing masks can be one small way of participating in that penance that is necessary for peace to come. Still, for those who truly feel they cannot wear masks, there will be a place for you in Church. No one will turn you away. I also encourage those who can to participate in the outdoor Masses we are offering at Fr. Gabriel Richard High School on Sundays (10am and 1pm for the time being). Outdoor Masses offer much more safety and simplicity to us.
Most Holy Trinity
This past week, we celebrated Pentecost, the feast that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit of God and the bringing to completion of the Paschal Mystery. Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father, and that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, would lead us to all truth.
Jesus revealed to us the Mystery of the Trinity! He enabled us to have a relationship with God the Father—whom He told us to call, “Our Father;” with Himself for He said, “follow me,” and “whoever believes in me will have eternal life,” and with God the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, who would be with us and dwell within us.
Scriptures gradually revealed the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity to us which can only be known through Divine Revelation. Human reason cannot reach this. And because it is a Mystery about God Himself, God’s nature, it is at the very center of our faith. The Apostle John will help us consider more deeply this mystery by telling us that God is love. St Paul will say, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
And while we will never be able to fully grasp this self-revelation of God as Most Holy Trinity, either on earth, or even in heaven, for only God knows Himself perfectly, God Himself will help us know this deep mystery for it is inseparable from the revelation of His Love. God, in loving us, brings us into an intimate relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We know we are known by God in each of the Divine Persons and know God in each Divine Person as God reveals. To know and love God even as we are truly known and loved is heaven.
Oh Most Holy Trinity, undivided unity, Holy God, Mighty God, God Immortal be adored!