The Holy Trinity
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8:4-9; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-1)
Sharing in the life of the Trinity and Sharing our Lives with One Another
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we acknowledge the central mystery of the Christian faith: that our God is three divine Persons in one God. It is the one statement that separates us from all of the other religions in the world, and it is the foundation for everything else that we profess and believe as Catholics.
But the teaching of the Trinity really explains much more than mere metaphysical propositions. It tells us about the inner life of God—the intimate love and communion that are constantly flowing between the Father, Son, and Spirit. God is far from an isolated being or uninvolved deity. His very existence has to do with relationships.
If it is God’s nature to share himself, and if we are created in his image, it follows that we too are meant to share our lives with each other. As Paul reminds us, we are the body of Christ, and a body “is not a single part, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14). We were built to be in communion with one another, joining together to build the kingdom and to proclaim the gospel to all of creation. It’s a tall order, and anyone who has tried to do it alone knows that it just doesn’t work!
But the Trinity is more than just a model for togetherness: it also gives us the power to live it! We really can love one another as fully as Jesus loves us—if we draw from the love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Jesus promises that as we deepen our relationship with one another, our lives will start to reflect the very life of the Trinity—and that’s how we can experience the joy we are meant to know as Christians!
“Holy Spirit, draw us all into the love that you share with the Father and the Son! Stir up your gifts within us, so that we may pour out that same love on one another!”
(Many thanks to The Word Among Us (www.wau.org) for allowing us to use meditations from their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission. The Word Among Us Mass Edition contains all the readings and a meditation for each of the daily and Sunday Masses.)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Questions for Reflection/Discussion
- Reflect on the following verses in the First Reading: The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his ways,” “from of old I was poured forth,” “then I was beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of the earth; and I found delight in the human race.” In what ways do these words, and the other words in the First Reading, give us a glimpse into the relationships and intimacy within the Trinity, especially between the Father and Jesus?
- In the Responsorial Psalm, we see the primacy of man: “You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.” Why should this truth motivate us to be good stewards over God’s creation? How well would you rate your own stewardship? What steps can you take to improve it?
- The Second Reading tells us that “the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Can you share a time in your life when you have “experienced” God’s love for you, not merely “known” about it?
- In the Gospel, we also get another glimpse into the Trinity through these words of the Lord Jesus: “He (the Holy Spirit) 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.” What do these verses tell us about the relationships between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? In what ways has the Holy Spirit “spoken” to you?
- The meditation ends with these amazing words: “But the Trinity is more than just a model for togetherness: it also gives us the power to live it! We really can love one another as fully as Jesus loves us—if we draw from the love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Jesus promises that as we deepen our relationship with one another, our lives will start to reflect the very life of the Trinity—and that’s how we can experience the joy we are meant to know as Christians!” If you are in a small faiths sharing group, what additional steps can you take to deepen your relationships with the members in your group? What steps can you take to build relationships with others in your neighborhood or in your parish?
- Take some time now to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to allow you to experience more deeply the love of the Trinity; and for the grace to share it with others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
