In the First Reading, God revealed Himself to the Israelites as the One and only God.  Pagans at the time had a whole pantheon of gods. But the Chosen People would serve the true God and were given the Mosaic Law and the Prophets to teach them the Will of God and form a people from whom the Messiah would take flesh.

In the Second Reading St Paul describes what happens to us at Baptism. We are all Baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the of the Holy Spirit and adopted as children of God. The Blessed Trinity comes and take up residence in our soul, through grace. Thus, can have an intimate relationship with the Three Persons.

The Gospel today contains the Apostolic Mandate given by Jesus, to go to all nations and Baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The disciples and the Church which carries on this mission, are to teach all that Jesus has commanded.  The Holy Trinity is a community of love, and we are called to mirror that love for one another. Each of us has been created in God’s image. That is, each of us have been given three faculties (or powers) in our immortal soul: memory, understanding and will. However, our human will was always meant to be perfectly united to the Divine Will. The more aligned to the Divine Will it is, the more we will mirror the love of the Trinity.

In today’s world, unfortunately, many of the mistakes of ancient pagan religions haven’t disappeared. They keep popping up now and again. For example, certain branches of the environmental movement see the world as god. Some even argue that it would be a better place if there were less human beings, or if they were eliminated from it. Extreme environmentalism sees the natural world as having equal rights: rocks, plants, people, insects … and seeing all as simply being part of mother earth. But as Christians, we know that God created the world for mankind and that we were created to know, love and serve God and offer all creation back to Him. If we always see ourselves as God’s children and strive through prayer to better mirror the Trinity, our Faith will continue to have an impact on the world. God has given us His Word, the Sacraments and so many graces to help us grow in holiness and love for one another.

This reminds me of the story of St Kentigan, who lived in Scotland in the 600’s. His mother, who was of royal birth, was found to be pregnant before she was married, and no one knew who the father was. A Scottish custom at the time required that she be condemned to death by being thrown off the top of a cliff. Somehow, she managed to survive, so they put her in a small boat and set it adrift in the sea. The boat washed up on the lonely retreat of St Serf, who had started a monastery in the area. He had compassion on the poor exiled woman, who had given birth to a son, just as the boat reached land. St Serf saw to it, that the woman was cared for and that when her son, Kentigern grew up he received his education at the hands of the monks. Kentigern soon felt a call to join the monks in their life of prayer, sacrifice and itinerant preaching. Before long he gathered some disciples and founded a monastery of his own near modern-day Glasgow. It became a great centre of spirituality and through his prayers and wise counsel peace was brought to an area that was previously a region of warring clans. He was eventually named Bishop of the city and in his time Glasgow became a great centre of Catholic Faith and culture on the edge of European civilization and a bright light of hope and holiness amid shadows of the dark ages. All this started because St Serf mirrored the love of the Trinity, by having mercy on an exiled woman.

We are all called to mirror the Blessed Trinity, but especially families and communities. The family for example, has been designed by God and couples have a special role in cooperating with God, through their openness to the gift of children, who are the supreme gift of marriage.  The family should be a place of Christian formation in all the virtues and especially prayerfulness. The Fatih is first proclaimed in the family. Devotions like the Family Rosary, Grace before and after meals draw down graces upon the family and give excellent example to the children, because children can be told what is right and wrong but the good example of parents compels.

Let’s always remember the dignity of every person, made in the image of God and let’s desire that God’s Will reign in all our actions and in order to better mirror the love of the Trinity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!