Most Holy Trinity – Deut 4:32-34,39-40; Rm 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

Many times, I’ve said farewell to someone I was close to, sometimes forever. Despite their physical absence they remain in my heart. They continue to have a place in my memories, though sometimes I miss them a lot.

Jesus finally completed His earthly journey. Ascended to His Father, to prepare a place for us in heaven. He said farewell to the Apostles and sent the Holy Spirit upon them. He didn’t want to leave them alone. At some time, He will return and with His own arms He will embrace each of us to His Heart. Creating a great community of all the saved in the image of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus went to heaven, but He is present to me, different from then when He lived on earth. But doesn’t He take me on His shoulders when He forgives my sins in the sacrament of penance? Doesn’t He embrace me to Himself in the Eucharist? He left Himself in Bread and Wine because He wants to be as close as possible to His creation. How do we use this gift of closeness to give us joy?

In a sermon the medieval Dominican mystic Meister Ekhart described the Holy Trinity in an unusual way: “When the Father laughs at the Son and the Son laughs back at the Father, that laughter gives pleasure, that pleasure gives joy, that joy gives love, and that is the Holy Spirit”. The joy and happiness of God are so great that He desires to share it with us. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is a community of joy. We look at God in this way today. We laugh together with Him and to Him. A laugh can also be a prayer. Let our hearts make merry. Let us rejoice with our Lord (cf Mt 25:21).

Father, who formed me, Son who redeemed me, Holy Spirit, who sanctifies me – One God in the Holy Trinity, fill my heart with true joy, so that my face shining with laughter may be sign to others of Your grace.