My Dear People,

It is the Holy spirit who makes fully understood the truth revealed by Christ. As Vatican II teaches, our Lord “completed and perfected Revelation and confirmed…finally by sending the Holy Spirit of truth” (Vatican II Dei Verbum). Jesus Christ here reveals some of the aspects of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. He teaches that three divine Persons have the same nature when he says that everything that the Father has belongs to the Son, and everything the Son has belongs to the Father (cf. Jn. 17:10) and that the Spirit also has what is common to the Father and the Son, that is, the divine essence. The activity specific to the Holy Spirit is that of glorifying Christ, reminding and clarifying for the disciples everything the Master taught them (cf. John. 16:13). On being inspired by the Holy Spirit to recognize the Father through the Son, men render glory to Christ; and glorifying Christ is the same as giving glory to God (cf. John 17: 1,3-5. 10).

The Gospel explains the relationship between the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit by relating all three to the teaching of Jesus. The Spirit will fill the void caused by Jesus’ absence, not so much with a presence as with a form of teaching. It will be through the unfolding of this teaching that the Spirit will glorify Jesus and reveal him to be the chosen one of God. It was from the Father that the Spirit heard the teaching of Jesus, and then it was also from the Father that the Spirit was sent to bring these teachings to fruition. The Spirit glorifies Jesus by bringing to light the deeper truth of his teaching, teaching that also belongs to God.

The mystery of the Trinity is central to our faith.  Our God is one and yet three and yet one. No matter which way you say it, the mystery doesn’t become any more comprehensible or less baffling. At the heart of this mystery is the reality of our loving God who created our world and all the worlds beyond ours, who has given us generous access by the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, and who has poured divine love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, the first gift to us at baptism.

When we make the sign of the cross we are calling on the Trinity. Often we do it hurriedly and without paying attention.  Think of the gesture that you are making and let us do it with more meaning and reflection.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente