Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This weekend the Church celebrates one of the greatest mysteries of our faith: the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God in three Divine Persons. For many Catholics, the Trinity can seem difficult to understand. How can God be one and yet three? Yet perhaps the most important thing to remember is this: the Trinity is not merely something to understand with the mind, it is something to experience with the heart.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, This weekend the Church celebrates the great feast of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Church was born. Pentecost is not simply a past event that happened 2,000 years ago. It is the ongoing reality of God’s presence and power within the Church and within each of us today. The Gospel for Pentecost from John 20:19–23 begins with a powerful setting. The disciples are gathered behind locked doors, filled with fear and uncertainty. Jesus had risen from the dead, but they still did not fully understand what was happening. They were afraid for their future, afraid of persecution, and perhaps even ashamed of how they had abandoned Jesus during His Passion. And yet, into that fear, Jesus comes. He stands in their midst and says: “Peace be with you.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In this Sunday’s Gospel, we are given the extraordinary privilege of listening to Jesus pray. The setting is deeply important. Jesus is at the Last Supper with His disciples. He knows that within hours He will be betrayed, arrested, and handed over to suffer and die. He knows the Cross is awaiting him. He knows fear and confusion will soon overwhelm His disciples. And what does Jesus do in this moment? He prays. Not only for Himself. Not only for the Twelve. But for all who will believe in Him. That means this prayer is also for us.

“I am in You” Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that are both simple and deeply challenging: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…I will not leave you orphans…I am in you.”