Dear Friend,
To hear this letter read by Soren, listen here:
With just several days to go before we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we are happy to share with you a special meditation, “Become a Living Trinity House,” that the Most Rev. Paul Loverde, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Arlington, shared last year at Trinity House Cafe. To counteract the busyness of this week, it may help to include it in a time of prayer and reflection, inviting the Lord to renew your vision as you lead your own Trinity House into the joy of Christmas.
By way of context, you may recall from the Heaven in Your Home Workshop that we suggest a posture of “welcome, listen, serve” in order to strengthen the bonds of our family’s communion in the image of the Trinity. In a particular way, the Heavenly Father “welcomes” us, the Holy Spirit “listens” to us, and Jesus Christ “serves” us. Reflecting on this approach, Bishop Loverde shared the following:
“As we look at the three readings [in each Sunday throughout Advent], we would see in the Old Testament reading how God is preparing for the coming of the Redeemer. God is preparing so that we may be welcomed by Jesus into salvation, into the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.”
“We would see also in the readings how the Holy Spirit is listening now to our prayers as He draws us closer to Jesus, whose birth we shall liturgically recall at Christmas, and as He comes every day to us. And we can also see in these readings during Advent how the Son serves us. We do not hear a lot about the dying and rising of Jesus in Advent as such, but Jesus came precisely to save us. And so, Christmas leads us to the dying on the cross and rising to new life. In Christmas, we see the infant welcoming us to His love that He will make even more graphic by dying and rising—and will make available to us in every Eucharist.”
“Yes, there is time in Advent, for the family to reap new beginnings, make new inroads, so that the family can become what it is called to be—this domestic church. It can become an expression even more of the presence of the Trinity. The family can become a living Trinity House: welcoming, listening, serving; being grateful for the gifts given, and living in joyful hope for the gifts God will give us, especially the gift of one another in the family, and the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior….I wish each of you a blessed, happy hope-filled Advent—Advent that rejoices your heart with true hope, enduring hope, because the hope is a person, whose name is Jesus.”
Reflecting further on Bishop Loverde’s words:
- In these sacred days, how can I welcome my family, making all I have available to them?
- How am I doing at listening to my loved ones in this busy season?
- What are the ways I am being called to serve in my family?
- How specifically can I lead my family to “become what it is called to be … a living Trinity House?”
“Lord Jesus Christ, You are the light in which we place our hope. Break upon minds clouded by confusion, hearts darkened by self-seeking, spirits dimmed by deadening habits, and set your people free to welcome your coming with joy, who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Prayer from Magnificat for 12/23/21)
> “Are you tired yet?” asks Elizabeth Foss in “Traveling the Holy Way” (Arlington Catholic Herald), a timely end-of-Advent reflection on our need to allow Jesus to revive us with his joy.
> In “Dad’s Christmas Dilemma,” (a back-issue of the Arlington Catholic Herald), Soren reflects on how his dad led an annual Christmas tradition that invited his family beneath the “surface” and into the “spiritual core” of Christmas. Each dad (and mom), Soren argues, can do so much more at Christmas than simply hovering at the surface.
> This fall, we enjoyed a delightful visit with Aleteia Editor-in-Chief Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P., at Trinity House Cafe. His “5 Ways to Keep Peace this Christmas (that actually work!)” is definitely worth your time. His #1 way is “prioritize your personal prayer.” Amen to that!
> Trinity House friend Steve Petullo says, “I am a monthly supporter of the work that Ever and Soren are doing at Trinity House Community because of the greatness of the cause: the family. Ever and Soren are a great example to the community. Trinity House Cafe is a wonderful place to visit and I think our world needs this type of place to redirect hearts back to God.”
> With just 10 days left to Dec. 31st, we are 83% of the way to our annual appeal goal, thanks to so many of you! Check out our newly-published 2021 Impact page here to see videos from artists Andrew and Emily de Sa, Stacey Sumereau, and more.
> Did you know that nationwide, 40% of Millennials and 49% of Baby Boomers are enrolled in monthly giving programs? Trinity House Community is blessed with a growing monthly donor community, and we invite you to consider joining us with your $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 (or more) monthly gift! Learn more at our Monthly Donor FAQ here and make your gift today!
“The Heaven in Your Home Workshop was a true inspiration. Soren and Ever stay down to earth about the messiness of family life while at the same time opening our hearts towards a more beautiful vision. They help us in the gap between reality and what we strive towards, providing tools and encouragement in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
– Matt and Christine Chaterdon, Falls Church
