May 26, 2013 – The Holy Trinity

The Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the Divine dance, the procession of personalities God inhabits in his revelations to us. The invisible Father, living in ineffable light, shared the work of creation with the mysterious figure we meet the Book of Proverbs today. It is in retrospect, the Lord Jesus, the author of life who playfully collaborates in the creation of the eternal and time-bound creation we inhabit. Through his first-hand love for humans, the ultimate unconditional love of God comes to save us. In Jesus love and re-creation are ignited. He delights in our existence and gives himself for our eternal union with God. The Holy Spirit provided the “medium” for our current union with God in Christ. We offer ourselves in Christ as an oblation of thanks to the Father for all we have received. And in Jesus, and through Him and with Him we enter the Divine dance!

Memorial Day weekend is busy all around. The new bishop is ordained on Saturday and begins his service to the Diocese of Oakland from the moment he is ordained. Pray for his success and well-being. I will be serving as Spiritual Director on the Latino Men’s Cursillo #297 all weekend through Memorial Day. No rest for the wicked! I thank Fr. Anton and the substitute priests for supplying Mass for you this weekend in my absence. Pray also for the success of the Cursillo. It seems I will be the only priest on the weekend retreat. All those confessions! Two deacons will join in to help carry the burden of talks and spiritual meditations. I pray God will bless this weekend retreat. Thank you all for your patience.

(Repeat of information for those absent: Two weekends ago I took the opportunity to re-visit the Mass, the new Mass (2002/2011) as we now are asked to celebrate it, with all its challenges. Ascension provided an opportunity to look upon this challenge as choosing to follow Jesus. Jesus is resolute in returning to Father despite the sorrow and despair of the disciples. Where he goes, we must follow. Our life in the Spirit prompts us to die and rise to new life, again and again. The new, “New Mass” does not break with the past, but flows from it. Our old Latin Mass (1570 AD) benefited from what research was available in the 16th century and also from the printing press! This took the Mass world-wide into the age of exploration.

The modern age called for further research and a re-birth of the Mass into contemporary languages. We are the beneficiaries of this transformation. The Novus Ordo of 1969 (New Order of Mass) provided the template for our current celebrations. What can we draw on to help us enter into the mysteries. First: the gift of silence, silence after the homily and silence after Holy Communion. Second: use the resources readily available in the pews, Missalettes and pew cards with essential prayers and responses. We need a willingness to be engaged, with humility and obedience, what has been handed on to us. Even the priests have problems with the new prayers; you are not alone! Third: sing, on or off tune, it’s OK. He who sings, prays twice (St. Augustine of Hippo). The Old Testament admonishes Israel raise up a joyful sound unto the Lord. The New Testament calls on us to praise and glorify the Lord. Above all, let faith encourage and strengthen you!

Thank you to all who participated in the School Spring Festival. Your support and presence were much appreciated.

Also, my apologies to the 5 o’clock Vigil Mass community for all the ruckus in the Hall last weekend. The Thai, Lao and Kmhmú Catholic communities gathered to celebrate with newly-ordained Fr. Benedict Wonganant. Fr. Benedict will serve as a diocesan priest for the Diocese of Oakland along with four other new priests ordained last Saturday, May 18th. The party atmosphere was more than I expected, or was given to understand, regarding a “reception for the priest”. Thank you for your indulgence in this matter.

Fr. Fernando J. Cortez, Pastor