The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
First Reading: Exodus 34:4-6,8-9
Early in the morning he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."
Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:52.53.54.55
Response: Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. (Response)
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. (Response)
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Response)
Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Response)
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13Response: Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. (Response)
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. (Response)
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Response)
Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Response)
Brothers and sisters, rejoice. 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. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.
Gospel Reading: John 3:16-18
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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
Trinity (One God in three persons) is expressed in love. God loved the world so much. God’s love was visible in His sacrifice of the only beloved son. Love is seen in sacrifice. Sacrifice itself was to share eternal life or to rather to give eternal life to the believers. Only believers receive this gift. The gift is given freely without and conditions. And the sole purpose is to save the world. There is no either or from God’s point of view. God’s action is only to save. God’s action can only save the people.
Trinity is presence. This is where, Jesus before he left this world sent the Holy Spirit to be with the believers; that the salvation that was effected by the sending of the son by the father and the sacrificial love of the son be continually present in the world and made continually present for the believers and the believers to come. Trinity has one purpose that is to save the world; and it has only one means that is by the sacrificial love; and it has one method and that is by the continual presence.
Trinity is presence. This is where, Jesus before he left this world sent the Holy Spirit to be with the believers; that the salvation that was effected by the sending of the son by the father and the sacrificial love of the son be continually present in the world and made continually present for the believers and the believers to come. Trinity has one purpose that is to save the world; and it has only one means that is by the sacrificial love; and it has one method and that is by the continual presence.
