The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Thus says the wisdom of God:
"The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
from of old I was poured forth,
at the first, before the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains or springs of water;
before the mountains were settled into place,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
nor the first clods of the world.
"When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
when he made firm the skies above,
when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
when he set for the sea its limit,
so that the waters should not transgress his command;
then was I beside him as his craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
playing before him all the while,
playing on the surface of his earth;
and I found delight in the human race."
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (2a) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place —
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."
NAB
We spent the those fifty days in the Easter season, culminating with the feast of Pentecost. Today marks the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, bringing together these great feasts of the Church.
It reminds me of when I attend a religious retreat. The time I spend with Our Lord is always special and uplifting to my soul. By the end I am on cloud nine, and feel like I can conquer whatever God puts before me. I return home eager to see my family but soon I am back in the daily grind of dishes, laundry, helping with homework, making dinner and being the ref for arguments about who’s the greatest super hero. It is back to reality.
The Apostles must have felt a little like this. After the Resurrection they experienced the joy and exuberance of Jesus’ return. They were elated to walk, talk and eat with Jesus once again. But He left them, they had to go on with their lives without His physical, earthly presence. It must have been a little difficult for them to get back to reality.
However, Our Lord did not leave them alone. He sent them the Holy Spirit who poured out His fiery love and supernatural grace to live their lives completely for God. You see the results of the Holy Spirit’s work in their behavior in the Act of the Apostles. They were abused and suffered at the hands of their accusers yet they rejoiced at the opportunity to be witnesses of faith. They lived the words of the Second Reading, “We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
It is incredible when you consider their transformation from scared Apostles to proud proclaimers of the Gospel. Yet the same Spirit that sparked this transformation is waiting to do the same with us. He awaits our daily humble surrender so He can continue to transform us into the best version of ourselves, accomplishing what we never thought possible, enduring what seems unimaginable, finding the strength and courage to live our lives with charity, generosity, and fortitude.
Today, let the Holy Spirit kindle your heart with love. Let Him use you as an instrument to touch the lives of those God has placed in your hands and on your path. Be that flame of love to others.
Bobbi Rol is a wife, a mama of four and a blogger learning to love God in the midst of dishes, laundry and swinging light sabers. You can find out more about her here.
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