Care and compassion in the Lord’s mission
May 31, 2026 – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Readings: Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9; Daniel 3, R. Glory and praise for ever!; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Gospel – John 3: 16-18
One of my cherished images of the Holy Trinity is from the meditation of St. Ignatius of Loyola on the Incarnation in his Spiritual Exercises. He prescribed that we contemplate the Holy Trinity seated on their majestic thrones in heaven, watching what is going on in the world—a description of the world 500 years ago, very much like what is going on now.
He painted a picture of a world filled with so much violence, hatred, lies, and all sorts of sins and vices, sending people to hell. Amid this chaos, the Holy Trinity decided to send the Son on a mission. This is the context of our reflections on the Holy Trinity.
We see three characteristics of the Holy Trinity in this meditation. First is their care and compassion. Second is the mission that flows from this care and compassion. Third is the communal nature of the mission.
Making meaning out of chaos
Borrowing Fr. James Keenan, S.J.’s definition of compassion or mercy—the ability to enter the chaos of others and to journey with them in making meaning out of their chaos—we understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ incarnation, his being God with us.
In seeing the chaos of the world, the Trinity’s response was not one of anger, but of care and compassion; entering our human situation in all its brokenness and chaos to lead us to a path of salvation.
As the Gospel stated, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (cf. John 3: 16-18)
The fruits of care and compassion
The Trinity’s response of care and compassion resulted in the mission. This is a very important fruit of care and compassion. Care and compassion to be authentic must always bear fruit in action and, in a very special way, an action that is inspired by and as a mission.
And it is more than an isolated action, but an entire way of life that is marked by a devotion to mission.
A life lived with integrity that comes from a clear sense of mission. For the Son, it began with contemplating what was happening in the world together with the Father and the Spirit. Together, they also decided to redeem the world and not to condemn the world.
From the beginning, it was a mission of care, compassion, and mercy. There was no other way that the Son was to live out and accomplish his mission. It was, is, and will always be the path to salvation.
Continuing the mission of the Lord
The third characteristic of the Trinity is its communal essence. They contemplated the world together. They decided together to send the Son. Jesus, in living out his mission, started with his clear vision, the beatific vision, of his being the Beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased; a beatific vision beginning with the Spirit in the form of a dove descending upon him.
In his years of ministry, Jesus constantly sought the solitude of this community to always align his life and ministry with the mission that came from the Trinity.
We saw this communal nature of mission and the Trinity completed in the Pentecost. As Jesus returned to the Father, the Spirit descended into the world and, through the Body of Jesus, the Church, continues the mission in, with, and through the Spirit of the Risen Lord.
This is why the Church is the icon of the Trinity in the world today.
As such, we contemplate what is going on in our world, and with the grace of the Trinity, we pray that we may respond with care and compassion in mission, sending out men and women into the world to journey with those who live in chaos and make meaning out of this chaos.
We pray that the Church may continue the mission of the Lord, a mission of care and compassion that is a communal choice of the Trinity.
