Once Saul had his conversion to Paul, he became one of the best teachers of the faith we ever had. He traveled far and near, through trials and tribulations, to “run his race.” Today’s first reading put him in Antioch.
Lineage 101
He is at the synagogue, and accepts an offer to speak, which I doubt he ever turned down! He taught about the lineage and association of the Jewish people through the previous five hundred years. This chosen people was led by one heroic figure after the next, like a line of succession. He finally got to King David, and the descendants that brought us Joseph, and thus Jesus. The flow and logic of the lecture brought the listeners, and readers (us) along the train of logic of how Jesus fulfilled the role He was sent to do. Prophecies were fulfilled. It was also a pitch to convince the Jews in the synagogue to consider converting, just like Paul had done, but without the blinding light, scales on the eyes, and 3 days of fasting.
Trinity
The Gospel today also plays on the theme of association and lineage. Jesus’ words are short and sweet. Whoever receives Him, receives God the Father, who is His father. Whoever receives who Jesus sends, receives Jesus. And we know that after Jesus ascended into Heaven on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, was sent to, and received by the Catholic Christians. This means that receiving the Holy Spirit means also receiving Jesus and God…the three parts of our Triune God. The Bible does not use the word “trinity” as far as I know, but we get the point here on the general concept.
Association
As a trained engineer, the logical progression of the Jewish leaders that brought us to the House of David, Joseph, and Jesus, make sense to me. The same logic about the Triune God makes sense to me, but teaching the Trinity to Confirmation Students is difficult. All three parts are one, but individual. St. Patrick, who was not Irish by the way, used the clover to explain. I have tried explaining how I can be a father, husband, and brother…three persons…but as just 1 person. Another trick is to use colored plastic or paint…Yellow plus blue is green…yellow and blue have their own identities, but when together you get something different all together.
