Sunday Gospel Reflection
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Introduction:

The Presence and Power of God

What concepts do you find easy to understand but difficult to communicate?

Have you ever been at a loss for words? Has an experience ever left you speechless? Or has an emotion run so deep words cannot express its meaning? As much as words communicate, so much more is left within the heart. This is one of the key mysteries of life.

To this mystery add the revelation of God. Loving Father. Self-giving Son. The power of the Spirit. So much to express. So few words that do God's revelation justice. Nonetheless, the inner nature of God was revealed in presence and in power.

First Reading

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40

32 "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.
33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?
34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
...
39 know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God gives you for ever

Second Reading
Romans 8:14-17

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"
16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him

Gospel Reading
Matthew 28:16-20

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 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,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Bible Study/Meditation

"The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the 'hierarchy of the truths of the faith,'" (The Catechism, Section 234.)  

At many times, and in many ways we affirm again and again our belief in the Holy Trinity. Prayers, such as, "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever; Amen," speak of this mystery of the Christian faith. How was it "in the beginning"? This is an important question, for we profess that is the way it is now, and that is the way it will be in the future. This statement speaks of the individual uniqueness of each person of the Trinity, and yet of the complete unity which exists. Each one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has a distinct role and function, yet they are One, existing in perfect harmony in will and purpose.

In an attempt to explain the Holy Trinity people have developed various analogies. Perhaps you have heard someone explain how an egg, consisting of shell, white, and yoke, expresses the unity and diversity of the Trinity. Or how a person can simultaneously be a son, a father, and a husband, demonstrating the oneness, while fulfilling three distinctly different roles. There are other such illustrations, however each of them leave much to be desired by way of explanation. The reason they fall short is that
the Holy Trinity, by its very nature, defies explanation. That is why it is called a mystery and requires faith to accept its reality.

A mystery is defined in several helpful ways in the book Catholicism by Richard P. McBrien, one of which is "truths of faith which are entirely beyond the natural powers of reason to apprehend." Pope Paul VI defined mystery as "a reality imbued with the hidden presence of God." The Holy Trinity is also called an absolute mystery inasmuch as it cannot be really understood even after it is revealed to us, it remains a mystery. Thus it is "the central mystery of faith," professed at our baptism and confirmation and acclaimed at each Mass.

It is in the Holy Trinity that we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working in perfect unity to bring about our salvation and their eternal purposes. Though it is a mystery it is a "reality" whose presence and effects can be seen and experienced. Ephesians chapter one1 is a wonderful exposition of the "mystery of His will." In it we are able to see how each member of the Trinity is involved in completing our salvation. In verses 3-6 we see the Father choosing us and destining us to be adopted through his Son. In verses 7-11 we see how Jesus the Son accomplishes our salvation through the mercy and grace of his blood. Lastly, in verses 13-14 we see how the Holy Spirit seals our salvation and guarantees it by taking up residency in our lives. This is the Holy Trinity, One in being, united in purpose, yet unique in their roles.

The prayer of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is a fitting conclusion and response to these truths: "O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into your mystery..." (as found in The Catechism, Section 260).

Reflection

· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you ?

. When we live as followers of Christ, we invite others to join us not because they see nice people living good lives. No, they, too, see the Trinity in action. For God works through us.
   ----Have you ever prayed to be God's instrument? To be the face of Christ to others?
       To have the Spirit work through you? To show others the Father's love? Take time this week to pray in this way. And focus your prayer on one or two people.

. Certainly we do not have any doubt about the risen Jesus;
  ----Is there any hesitation, frustration while you are teaching and observing Jesus' commandments?

. This is the way God loves: the Father loved us so much as to give us his Only Begotten Son; through love, the Son gave up his life for our sake; and the Holy Spirit brings into us the same love with which God loves us.
  ----As the risen Jesus' disciples how do you exercise this love, especially to the least of His people, in your daily life?

. Do you, while sharing Jesus' discipleship, exclude others (individuals, family, group, community ...) from your spiritual territory?

Prayer

May the Lord Jesus put his hands on our eyes also, for then we too shall begin to look not at what is seen but at what is not seen. May he open the eyes that are concerned not with the present but with what is yet to come, may he unseal the heart's vision, that we may gaze on God in the Spirit, through the same Lord, Jesus Christ, whose glory and power will endure throughout the unending succession of ages." (prayer of Origin, c. 185-254).