Covered by the love of the cross, covered by the love that is God

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

“Love” is one of those words that you can define, but it doesn’t mean you fully understand it, or ever can.

It is a mystery that you enter into; you know when it is there and when it is not.

The more you experience it, the more you discover the depths of its meaning.

But one thing you know for sure, you can never fully grasp its meaning or power because it is truly a mystery.

The Holy Trinity is also a mystery.

We attempt to define it; we listen to God’s word, as Trinity is revealed throughout the Gospels, most especially in John’s Gospel.

We are given rich and beautiful descriptions of the love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and experience this revelation of one God in three persons — this community of love in one God.

There is rich significance in the “definition of God” that is given to us in the First Letter of John: “God is love.”

Because it is this love between Father, Son, and Spirit that is God, one can say it, describe it, attempt to define it, proclaim it, listen to the revelation of it, and seek its meaning.

And in all of this we keep entering in more deeply to the mystery.

But the truth is we will never fully grasp its meaning. It is like the proverbial “bottomless pit.”

The more you grasp, the deeper the truth.

There is always more — once the mystery has been shared and begins to reveal its meaning and power, it becomes more and more a mystery to be experienced.

To enter into the love that is Trinity — to open its power and be touched by it, to seek and discover it, and to open one’s mind to it — is the journey.

As Catholics we do that simply as we begin and end every prayer by marking or crossing ourselves in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Every time we pray we mark ourselves with the cross; we mark ourselves with the name of God as Trinity.

We are covered by the love of the cross and covered by the love that is God — the communion of three persons in one God.

We will never fully understand it, and yet we touch the mystery countless times every day in prayer, allowing this mystery to guide and to change and to love us!

We are a people of faith. Our lives are formed and transformed by the God we know and love as Father, Son and Holy Spirit — the Most Holy Trinity.

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Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.