THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: God of all ages, you are loving, slow to anger, rich in kindness. We praise you for your goodness. You are the Creator and sustainer of our lives. You are our Savior. We honor you for your total gift of self. You are the Spirit of life, forgiveness, and peace. We delight in your tender love. One God in three persons, be near to us who are formed in your image. Dwell in us. We ask this gracious God, living and true, forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing life: How have you experienced God this past week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The Feast of Pentecost completed the Lent-Easter season. New we return again to Ordinary time. Each year, the Sundays of Ordinary time begin with two Solemnities, namely the Most Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi. During the Fifty Days of Easter we celebrated what God did for us through Jesus. This Sunday on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we celebrate who God is for us. The first reading speaks of Lady Wisdom’s role in creation. In the second reading, Paul reminds us how Christ’s sacrifice made possible for us a personal relationship with God. In the gospel, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit helps the church to grasp the full meaning of Jesus’ message, especially his message about his Father.

If you haven’t read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: Proverbs 8:22-31

In this reading, we are introduced to a mysterious figure, Lady Wisdom. She has intrigued scholars since the dawn of creation. In the first verses of today’s reading, Lady Wisdom tells us that she was God’s first-born, existing long before anything else was brought forth. Then in poetic detail Lady Wisdom tells us how she was present with God as a kind of craftsman when the world was being created. The reading ends with an intriguing image of Lady Wisdom playing on the surface of the earth, taking delight in human beings. Lady Wisdom should not be seen as separate from God. Neither should she be seen as the feminine side of God. (Being Pure Spirit, God is neither male nor female) In the Christian era, Wisdom was seen as the Word of God, which became flesh in Christ.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 8

This hymn of praise contrasts God’s majesty with human lowliness and marvels at God’s treatment of humankind. The author especially marvels at God’s concern for us inferior human creatures.

SECOND READING: Romans 5:1-5

The saving work of Jesus is a major theme of Paul’s letter to the Romans. We are saved by grace. It is pure gift. We do not earn it. Rather, we open our hearts to the gift and receive it. This "opening of our hearts" to Jesus is one way to describe what we call "faith." By opening our hearts to God in faith, we "gain access" to God who is our peace, hope and end. Because of our relationship with God, we can endure afflictions. Coping with afflictions leads to endurance and endurance leads to tested virtue and hope, which keeps us going in difficult times.

GOSPEL: John 16:12-15

Today’s Gospel is an excerpt from Jesus’ Farewell Discourse to his apostles. They are downcast because of his departure. To console and help them, Jesus promises to send his Holy Spirit. One of the roles of the Spirit will be to lead the disciples into "all truth". The Spirit will lead the Church to gradually understand the deep meaning and radical implications of the teachings of Jesus. Often the teachers of our Church will use this text when speaking about some of our teachings that are not explicitly mentioned in Scripture – beliefs about Mary, the Papacy, and Original Sin. Through centuries of meditation on the Scriptures, Mother Church, led by the Spirit, saw the above teachings implied in the Scriptures. Also, a role of the Holy Spirit is to help the Church in every age to express, in fresh contemporary language, ancient truths.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you in the readings?

2. The first reading speaks about Lady Wisdom being playful, creative, and appreciative of beauty. To what extent are you like Lady Wisdom?

3. In the second reading, Paul speaks about how people of faith can "boast of their afflictions". Have you experienced afflictions as leading to some positive growth in your life? If so, in what way? What helps us to transform affliction into blessings?

4. What have been some of the low and high points of your relationship with God? When have you felt closest and distant from him?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on these readings. Suggestions: When receiving Holy Communion or praying, try to image God as pouring his life and love into your being. Experiment with being playful in your relationship with the Lord.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYER OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray that our church family grows in her ability to image to the world the communal life of the Blessed Trinity.