THE TRINITY
The Catholic Church celebrates this Sunday (June 3) the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity. Catholics and Protestants believe that there is only One God, but in God there are three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The truth is revealed by Christ when He said, "The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth...Everything the Father has is mine" (Jn 16:12-15). Jesus mentions two persons: the Spirit of Truth and his Father. Jesus is not the Spirit and the Spirit is not the Father. The three are distinct and separate persons, although eternally united. The Son (the Word) is co-eternal with the Father (God) (cf Jn 1:1-5). And the eternal, everlasting Love of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit.

Before Christ ascended into heaven He ordered His Apostles, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...(Mt 28:19). Here is expressed the co-equality of the three divine persons. When Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist "the Holy Spirit descended upon him (Jesus) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased" (Lk 3:21-22). When Christ was questioned by the high priest, "Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?", Jesus replied, "I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mk 14:61-62). Other verses that speak about Jesus as eternal God: "Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began" (Jn 17:5); "He is before all things" (He existed before his mother Mary and his foster father Joseph!); "Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM'" (Jn 8:58). How can some say that Jesus is only a man?!? Jesus existed even before Abraham!

We Catholics pray, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord...I believe in the Holy Spirit...".

May the Holy Spirit enlighten all of us, but particularly those persons who do not believe in the Trinity, so that our faith in the Triune God move us ever more to participate in the loving, redeeming, and inspiring life of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. So be it!

Tags: trinityPrev: Mary, Queen of the Apostles
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DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Today is Pentecost Day, commemorating that day when the Holy Spirit
descended upon the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle together with Mary,
mother of Jesus. That was a new day for them. The day they were transformed
from being slow-learners to inspired preachers, from being cowards to being
bravehearts!

The Holy Spirit even today inspires men and women to follow the teachings
of Christ. There are many good things being done in this world due to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit that are being followed by good men and women.

In the recent election in the Philippines, it would seem from so many reports
on cheating, vote buying, coercion that some politicians and their followers did not
follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, but rather followed the temptations
of the Evil Spirit. Good deeds are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Bad deeds, like
cheating, vote buying, coercion are "inspirations" from the Evil One.

The Philippines is a Catholic country as a whole. But this good name of the
Philippines is being tarnished by those people whose gods are Money, Power, and
Fame.

We pray that the Holy Spirit's inspirations be docilely followed by everyone,
so that the Filipinos may again be proud of their country as pearl of the Orient
Seas, as the only Christian country in Asia.

WHO IS A GOOD VOTER?

1. A GOOD VOTER knows the qualities of the candidates he/she votes for.
2. A GOOD VOTER follows the guidelines given by the representatives of the Church.
3. A GOOD VOTER does not sell his/her vote.
4. A GOOD VOTER chooses the candidates for their qualifications, not for their party affiliations.
5. A GOOD VOTER is not influenced by the results of surveys.
6. A GOOD VOTER selects candidates who are God-fearing, honest, guided by moral principles, nationalistic, unselfish or caring for the common good.
7. A GOOD VOTER reports electoral cheating.
8. A GOOD VOTER prays for an honest and orderly elections.
9. A GOOD VOTER stands for the right, not for the immoral.
10. A GOOD VOTER is... (please continue the sentence).

WHAT IS SUMMER?

--Summer is empty classrooms and overcrowded beaches!
--Summer is playing beach volleyball or tug-of-war or snorkelling to look
for "Nemo" among the corals!
--Summer is travelling for business, but mostly for pleasure and for pilgrimage!
--Summer is being bombarded by political advertisements and given the freedom
to choose the candidates that suit one's taste!
--Summer is young people clicking their digital cameras and wondering
how beautiful their pictures are!
--Summer is two lovers walking hand-in-hand in the beach, exchanging
sweet nothings!
--Summer is mourning during the Holy Week and jumping for joy on Easter Sunday!
--Summer is reading novels and watching movies!
--Summer is abducting and killing persons done by goons paid by godless people!
--Summer is finding time to make a "retreat"
--For you, dear reader, what is... summer?--RH