Because of the lockdowns and stay-at-home directives we have endured the last few months, I have a new routine that has improved my health and my prayer life, in my opinion. My old routine was to try to attend a daily Mass, then sit on my keister most of the day either watching TV, messing around on the computer or other electronic devices, and to pray one Rosary just before going to bed at night, hoping to finish before falling asleep. Now though, since Masses are still not required or even ‘recommended’ (per my Bishop) for people my age, and the only ‘outside activity’ I can enjoy because of the lockdown is ‘hiking’, I have been trying to walk 3 miles per day, when I can. Why 3 miles? Primarily, it’s because that’s how far I can generally walk before I’m completely exhausted. But what I’ve also found out is that in the time it takes me to walk one mile (about half an hour), I can say a complete Rosary, so I’m praying 3 Rosaries a day now. My first Rosary is said for my wife, my kids, and my grandkids; for their well-being and happiness and freedom from fear in today’s world. The second is for my parents, my brothers and sisters-in-law, my nephews and nieces, and anyone else the Lord sees fit to bless. The third is for faith, hope and love to flourish among all people on earth.
The result of these walks is that I am losing weight, I feel better physically, and I enjoy the time I spend with the Blessed Mother in prayer each day, meditating on the life of her Son. I use an app on my phone that ‘prays’ with me and keeps me focused.
Another benefit to this new routine is that I can spend the time at night I used to say the Rosary to pray and reflect on the following day’s suggested Scripture readings.
As I pray tonight on the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the number of Rosaries I say each day came to mind, and I wonder if my new ‘routine’ is influenced by my devotion to the Holy Trinity.
The foundation of our faith that God as three persons in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, is a great comfort while being simultaneously accessible and hard to completely understand. But the readings for this Solemnity give us some insight.
In Exodus, God stands with Moses and proclaims: “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity” (Exodus 34:4-9). The Lord’s proclamation is my image of a loving God. The dialogue between Moses and the Lord is quite powerful. I admire the courage of Moses and his leadership. It reminds me to look for opportunities in my life to trust in my faith so I can embody courage and leadership in service to others.
St. Paul reminds us that we can bring out the best in one another by living peacefully in community. While these instructions sound easy, but we know—through current world events—how extremely complex living these words can be: “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you” (2 Corinthians 13:11-13). When we’re spending time with people who we can easily love and with whom we agree we can easily embrace this guidance. It’s much more difficult when we’re not our best self and fail to ask God for the grace to have a happy, peaceful heart.
How can we do what God is simply asking us to do to mend our ways and encourage others when we disagree with them? God isn’t asking us to abandon our values and our beliefs but to show every person the compassion and love we experience.
John’s familiar Gospel brings us the number one Scriptural ‘greatest hit’: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16-18). This is the foundation of our faith and the touchstone we need especially when times are challenging. Our Baptism is a gift to allow us to be born again for eternal life.
The love that God shows us in the amazing gift of Jesus is overwhelming. Love is what the Most Holy Trinity is all about. Out of love God sends His son. Jesus shows His love through His ministry on earth and by His death and resurrection. And the death and resurrection bring us the love of the Holy Spirit. How could we ever feel condemned when we know we’re embraced with this love?
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