Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-34,39-40
Moses said to the
people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."
Second Reading: Romans 5:16-25
Brothers and sisters, for those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
Jesus was sent by the Father into the world. He was
sent to proclaim the good news of the kingdom and make disciples for the
kingdom. Jesus has completed the mission by his death and resurrection. Now he
has been given the authority in heaven and on earth. He commanded his disciples: "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."
Now Jesus plays the same role as the Father has done. Jesus sends his disciples into the world. He asks the disciples to make more disciples. This is done in the name of the triune God. When we do something in the name of someone then what we mean is that in the power of / in the strength of / in the character of / in the presence of that person. The disciples preach and do all what they can in the name of the triune God.
Now Jesus plays the same role as the Father has done. Jesus sends his disciples into the world. He asks the disciples to make more disciples. This is done in the name of the triune God. When we do something in the name of someone then what we mean is that in the power of / in the strength of / in the character of / in the presence of that person. The disciples preach and do all what they can in the name of the triune God.
