Also follow Fr. Paul at his personal website - mtmonk.com

Copyright © 2011-2018 William Paul McKane. All rights reserved.

21 May 2016

A Note For Trinity Sunday

Rarely do I hear a question from a parishioner, “What is the Trinity?,” and rarely do I hear a parishioner declare, “I do not believe in the Trinity.” Catholics generally passively accept the dogma of the Trinity as the official teaching of our Church. I doubt that many of our people give much thought to the “Trinity,” although all of us sign ourselves “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I am quite sure that if a priest or deacon said, “God is not the Trinity,” or “I do not believe in the Trinity,” a response would be audible. And it should be. 

The Trinity is one of the two central dogmas of our Catholic faith, together with the Incarnation of God in Christ. (Historically, the dogma of the Trinity was developed after, and as an elaboration of, the belief that God took flesh in Christ (Incarnation). These dogmas are central, and have helped to protect the truth of our faith from being lost in various doctrinal disputes through the ages. For those who wish, I encourage you to read my brief essay on “The Trinity and the Magnolia Blossom” posted on our website in 2015. This essay is about as good as I can do at this time in trying to help you appreciate “the Trinity.” 

The reality and mystery of God utterly surpasses human understanding. All of our symbols, terms, dogmas, doctrines fall short of the truth of God, and yet we need words, teachings, to communicate something about the One in whom we believe. The Catholic and Orthodox teaching on the Trinity is profound and highly developed, and anyone would be a fool to reject the teaching. Our teaching on the Trinity contains much wisdom, and pulls together centuries of genuine spiritual experiences. To be Catholic is to tap into the spiritual wisdom of human history, revealed by the Spirit, focused on God becoming flesh as Christ. At the same time, the “Trinity” instills humility, for it communicates to the faithful that God is beyond our grasp, even when we may be granted beautiful experiences of divine Presence. God beyond human understanding, and God present in and with Christ Jesus and the Spirit, is named “Father.” We are not literally offspring of God or a god, but the reality of God breathes life into our souls as we respond to God with loving faith. We are in God far more than God is in us. And in the Eucharist, it is not so much that we receive Christ into our bodies, hearts, minds, but that He receives us into the unexplored depths of divinity. In the words of Thomas Aquinas, “The lower is taken up into the higher.” We are being moved into the Divine abyss beyond all understanding. Trust is required, or we will cling to our egos and our various beliefs, rather than allow God the Spirit to draw us out into deeper waters. 

Not in movement, but in stillness. Not in words, but in silence. Not in wordy prayers, but in the prayer of the heart longing for God. Not in many, but in One. Not in this or that, but in each, and none. Not in many beliefs, but in simple faith as trust. Not in many loves, but in love itself. Not in me, or in you, but in the eternal I AM.

07 May 2016

Ascension Meditation

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ did not abandon us; He is with us ever more. As the Risen and exalted LORD, Jesus Christ is able to be more present to you and to all who turn to God than Jesus could be had he remained physically on earth. The Ascension of Christ indicates that space and time cannot limit his loving and wise rule over human beings. Spiritual reality is not limited by bodily presence. Absent in body, the Risen Christ is present with you in spirit. That means: the more you love Christ, the more you experience his presence and love for you. Love is its own reward. 

So we have not been abandoned. Through the Ascension, Christ is fully one with God, and present in love, power, and wisdom, wherever God is. Where is God? Where is God not? Nowhere. Do you not hear Christ’s words in your heart? Do you not cherish the moments when you experienced his love and gentle goodness?

“Behold, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.” So Christ has spoken, so it is true. 

Through your love, Christ is in you and with you. Through kindness, generosity, simple acts of goodness, you make Christ Jesus present to the ones you truly love. And so you spread his Kingdom through your loving deeds, truthful words, work to benefit human beings. 

Shalom!