This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is also Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer. On Memorial Day we remember all those who gave their lives in war so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have. Jesus gave his life to free us from sin. He said there is no greater love than to give one's life for one's friends. Let us remember all those who died in war.
Next Sunday there will be a special event. Meg Hunter-Kilmer has a new book about saints coming out. See website below.
https://saintsaroundtheworld.com/
This is a fabulous children's book about saints! She will be in town next week. She will be coming to St. Augustine on June 6 and doing an outdoor reading or similar after each Mass. She has 3 copies of her book to donate to St. Augustine for Sunday school/CCD as well. I hope that many of our children will be here and enjoy the presentation. Needless to say, adults can participate as well. If it rains we will do the presentation in the hall with social distancing.
Today is Trinity Sunday and the Church asks us to think a little about who God is. In our first reading, Moses reminds his people of what great things God has done for them. He asks: "Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?" He recalls how God saved them from slavery and tells them God wants them to follow his statutes and commandments so that "you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you forever." God chose a people and revealed Himself to them through signs and wonders. In today's Gospel Jesus teaches us more as to who God is. Just before his ascension into heaven, he tells the Church: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Jesus tells us the nature of God, The Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery but we have Jesus' word on it. In our second reading today, St. Paul tells us this as well as all of us can be called sons and daughters of God. We cry: Abba, Father!
What a gift we have. God chose us before we chose God. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, became one of us to save us from sin and we are temples of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. Wow!
We continue to have Masses on Sunday at 8:15 and 10:30 AM. Our pandemic rules have changed. The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday will be lifted, June 11, 2021. If you are ill, please stay home. At Mass, if you are fully vaccinated, you may go mask less. If you are not fully vaccinated, you should still wear a mask. Vaccinated or not, you can still wear a mask, if it makes you feel safer. We also ask that you still observe social distancing. The Precious Blood is still limited to the priest and the Sign of Peace should still be given from a distance unless you are with people you live with. Little by little we will get back to normal. Just remember the pandemic is still on.