Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The one God reveals himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The revelation of God as triune was progressive in nature and not done all at once. However, certain things have always been true of God, no matter how God was understood at the time.
Moses says that the God they worship breaks all of the stereotypes. Although he is the Creator, he actually cares enough about his people to speak with them. Moses is amazed that God would do this and the people not die as a result of hearing his voice. God also cares enough about them to go into the midst of a nation that had enslaved them, defeat their gods, and bring his people out. The stereotypical god stayed in his own territory and never ventured out. The God of Israel is Lord of the heavens and the earth. He gives his people statutes and ordinances but land and long life, too. He wants his children to prosper and is willing to do all in his power to see that this happens.
The psalmist gets fairly specific in this regard. God’s kindness fills the earth. The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and hope for his kindness. He does not disappoint. He wants to deliver them from death and preserve them, even in the midst of tragedies such as famine. He is the help and shield of his people. Blessed are the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
This God goes even further. He considers us his sons and daughters. He gives us his Spirit. We are not treated like slaves but as adopted children who can talk to God like a baby talks to her daddy - Abba, Papa, Dada - Father. Since we are children of God, we are heirs. God has prepared an inheritance for us. And we share this inheritance with Jesus, the actual Son of God.
Therefore, we are commissioned to take this Good News to all nations. We baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and then we teach them to follow Jesus. This is the least we can do for the God who has done so much for us. Even in this, we are not alone. Jesus promises to be with us always, until the end of the age.
We may not know or understand everything there is about the triune God but we know that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in every age and at every time has shown interest in, love for, and a desire to know his people.
Holy God.
Holy Mighty.
Holy Immortal.
Have mercy on us.
George Butterfield
I served as the Legal Reference Librarian at the Creighton University Law School Library from August, 2007, until August of 2017. I also taught Legal Research to first year law students and Advanced Legal Research to second and third year law students. In August of 2017 I took the position of Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served in that capacity until Covid hit and the church staff was cut in half. Recently I took a position with the St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and my wife and I moved back to the Omaha suburb of Papillion.
My wife, Deb, and I have been married since 1970. She grew up in Oklahoma City and I migrated south from southwestern Pennsylvania. God has blessed us with three children, four living grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I spent the first thirty years of our marriage as a minister so our family moved a lot. We have lived in several states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California.
I enjoy walking, reading, listening to audio books, playing with my Pekingnese, Max, my Maltese-Schnauzer, Blaise, and seeing my grandkids grow up. I am a Catholic deacon, having been ordained by Archbishop George Lucas on May 5, 2012.
There is nothing to compare with reflecting on scripture. I feel privileged to participate in these daily reflections. Although we don’t know whether or not St. Francis ever said it, one idea associated with him is that we preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. May these reflections be gospel words, good news, of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.
