The Trinity A

Welcome to our Bible Welcome to our Bible StudyStudy

15 June 201415 June 2014Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

AAIn preparation for this Sunday’s LiturgyIn preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy

In aid of focusing our homilies and sharingIn aid of focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

11stst reading: Exodus 34:4b- reading: Exodus 34:4b-6.8-96.8-9

4 Early the next morning, Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets. 5 Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." 6 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.” 8 Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. 9 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." The focus is on God the Father.

11stst reading: Exodus 34:4b-6.8-9 reading: Exodus 34:4b-6.8-9Moses 4 Early the next morning, Moses went up Mount

Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.

The Lord 5 Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood

with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." 6 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 8 Moses at once bowed down to the ground in

worship. 9 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."

A simple outline!

11stst reading: Exodus 34:4b-6.8-9 reading: Exodus 34:4b-6.8-9Moses 4 Early the next morning, Moses

went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.

The Lord 5 Having come down in a cloud,

the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." 6 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 8 Moses at once bowed down to

the ground in worship. 9 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."

Commentary In v.4, Moses obeys God and he

goes up to the mountain to meet him.

In v.5, God comes down, stands with Moses and proclaims his name, “Lord.”

In v.6, the Lord declares himself to be a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.

In v.8, Moses acknowledges God by showing a sign of reverence.

In v.9, Moses asks a favor from God. He invites him to go to his people (though stiff-necked) and to pardon their sins and to receive them as his own.

Here, Moses intercedes for his people.

Reflections on the 1Reflections on the 1stst readingreading

God is forgiving to his wayward people. Though he can be turned off, like a human being,

by the unbecoming behavior of his chosen people, God can still have a lot of patience and understanding.

The text is an invitation to all of us, sinners, to go back to him.

No one should be afraid to turn back to him. God is merciful.

Resp. Ps. Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, Resp. Ps. Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 5656

R. (52b) R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!Glory and praise for ever!

52 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,52 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;53 And blessed is your holy and glorious name,53 And blessed is your holy and glorious name,praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

54 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,54 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

55 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,55 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

56 Blessed are you who look into the depths56 Blessed are you who look into the depthsfrom your throne upon the cherubim,from your throne upon the cherubim,praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Resp. Ps. Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, Resp. Ps. Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 5656

R. (52b) R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!Glory and praise for ever!

52 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of 52 Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,our fathers,praiseworthy and exalted above all praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;forever;53 And blessed is your holy and glorious 53 And blessed is your holy and glorious name,name,praiseworthy and exalted above all for all praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.ages.

54 Blessed are you in the temple of your 54 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,holy glory,praiseworthy and glorious above all praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.forever.

55 Blessed are you on the throne of your 55 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,kingdom,praiseworthy and exalted above all praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.forever.

56 Blessed are you who look into the 56 Blessed are you who look into the depthsdepthsfrom your throne upon the cherubim,from your throne upon the cherubim,praiseworthy and exalted above all praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.forever.

Commentary The responsorial psalm comes

not from the book of Psalms, but from the book of Daniel.

It is a psalm / prayer blessing and praising God.

Each verse repeats, “praiseworthy and exalted above all forever / for all ages.

Vv.52-53 see God as the God of their history (fathers), with holy and glorious name.

Vv.54-56 state where God is praised:

In the temple On the throne of his kingdom On the throne upon the

cherubim

Reflection on the PsalmReflection on the Psalm

The purpose of our life is not just to eat and drink, but to give praise to the Lord.

It is unbecoming of us if we don’t recognize God’s power and glory.

We should spend our prime time acknowledging his majesty.

22ndnd reading: 2 Corinthians reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-1313:11-13

11 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. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.

The focus is on the Trinity.


Exhortations 11 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. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

Greetings 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and

the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.

A simple outline!


Exhortations 11 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. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.

Greetings 13 The grace of the

Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.

CommentaryCommentary Vv.11-12 give exhortations.Vv.11-12 give exhortations.

RejoiceRejoice Mend your waysMend your ways Encourage one anotherEncourage one another Live in peace.Live in peace. Greet one another…Greet one another…

Only two sentences in vv.11-12 Only two sentences in vv.11-12 are not in the imperative mood.are not in the imperative mood. The God of love and peace will The God of love and peace will

be with you.be with you. All the holy ones greet you.All the holy ones greet you.

In v.13, Paul greets the In v.13, Paul greets the Corinthians. The liturgy has Corinthians. The liturgy has adopted this formula in the adopted this formula in the greetings at the beginning of the greetings at the beginning of the mass.mass.

Reflections on the 2Reflections on the 2ndnd readingreading

St. Paul, the author, expresses his fatherly concern to the Christians in Corinth.

As a missionary, preacher and teacher, he reminds them of the good Christian behaviors.

The recommended Christian behaviors are useful for the building up of the Christian community in Corinth.

We, Christians, living at the present age, need also to exhibit good behavior towards others.

We remind ourselves to be: joyful and peaceable.

We acknowledge the presence of each one, by wishing them well, in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Gospel reading: John 3:16-Gospel reading: John 3:16-1818

16 For 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 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.

The focus is on the Father and the Son.

Gospel reading: John 3:16-Gospel reading: John 3:16-1818

God’s salvific love 16 For 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Man’s faith-response 18 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.

A simple outline!

Gospel reading: John 3:16-18Gospel reading: John 3:16-18God’s salvific love 16 For 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Man’s faith-response 18 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.

CommentaryCommentary V.16 affirms God’s love to the V.16 affirms God’s love to the

world.world. It is not just an ordinary love.It is not just an ordinary love. It is a passionate love, as It is a passionate love, as

indicated in the phrase “Godindicated in the phrase “God so so loved…”loved…”

It is also indicated by the fact It is also indicated by the fact that he gives his only Son.that he gives his only Son.

His Son is not an ordinary gift.His Son is not an ordinary gift. It is a total gift of Himself.It is a total gift of Himself. Faith in him brings about life Faith in him brings about life

eternal, not perdition.eternal, not perdition. V.17 reinforces God’s purpose V.17 reinforces God’s purpose

for sending his Son: that the for sending his Son: that the world might be saved through world might be saved through him, not to condemn it.him, not to condemn it.

Notice here that the world Notice here that the world represents humans, not the represents humans, not the world that is opposed to God.world that is opposed to God.

Gospel reading: John 3:16-18Gospel reading: John 3:16-18God’s salvific love 16 For 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Man’s faith-response 18 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.

V.18 makes an encouraging V.18 makes an encouraging statement to those, who want statement to those, who want eternal life and salvation.eternal life and salvation.

All they have to do is to believe All they have to do is to believe in the Son.in the Son.

V.18 also mentions about those V.18 also mentions about those who don’t believe and what who don’t believe and what happens to them: happens to them: condemnation.condemnation.

Those who don’t believe are Those who don’t believe are predestined to be condemned, predestined to be condemned, because they have not believed because they have not believed in the first place.in the first place.

It is a big mistake not to believe It is a big mistake not to believe in the only Son of God.in the only Son of God.

Reflections on the gospel Reflections on the gospel readingreading

The gospel reading states God’s loving purpose to the world (humanity): eternal life.

What the world (humanity) needs to do is to believe (accept) in the only Son of God, who comes precisely to save us.

Those who miss the point (purpose) of God has devastating effect: perdition, condemnation, no hope.

Listeners of this gospel message should take seriously God’s Son.

Tying the 3 readings and the Tying the 3 readings and the PsalmPsalm

The The first readingfirst reading encourages the people encourages the people (sinners) to have hope in God because he (sinners) to have hope in God because he is is a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.

The The second readingsecond reading encourages good encourages good Christian behavior. The Christian must be Christian behavior. The Christian must be positive in his dealings with other people. positive in his dealings with other people. Christians must be saints (holy).Christians must be saints (holy).

The The gospel readinggospel reading encourages the encourages the readers and listeners (sinners) to believe readers and listeners (sinners) to believe in Jesus in order to have life eternal.in Jesus in order to have life eternal.

How to develop your homily / How to develop your homily / sharingsharing

What is the meaning of the Holy What is the meaning of the Holy TrinityTrinity to us? to us?

The The FatherFather is a merciful God, who gives is a merciful God, who gives consideration to sinners (stiff necked people). consideration to sinners (stiff necked people). (1(1stst reading)reading)

The The SonSon is a gift of God, and when received is a gift of God, and when received (believed) brings us to salvation. (gospel)(believed) brings us to salvation. (gospel)

Real believers of Real believers of JesusJesus will necessarily exhibit will necessarily exhibit inspiring behavior to other people. inspiring behavior to other people. (2(2ndnd reading) reading)

Where is the Where is the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit? We know him together ? We know him together with the Father and the Son in the second reading.with the Father and the Son in the second reading.

We can develop the meaning of the greeting, v.13, in We can develop the meaning of the greeting, v.13, in the second reading:the second reading:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.”

The The gracegrace of our of our Lord Jesus ChristLord Jesus Christ: : charischaris, favor, favor The The lovelove of of GodGod: : agapeagape, love, the highest Christian , love, the highest Christian

virtuevirtue The The fellowshipfellowship of the of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit: : koinoniakoinonia, ,

participation, sharingparticipation, sharing

What more can we ask if we have them all as desired in What more can we ask if we have them all as desired in this greeting?this greeting?

This is the Christian greeting This is the Christian greeting par excellencepar excellence, rightly , rightly considered by the liturgists, who put it at the start of considered by the liturgists, who put it at the start of the Mass.the Mass.

If the If the triune Godtriune God is with us and if we are filled is with us and if we are filled with the gifts, which each person of the with the gifts, which each person of the TrinityTrinity gives us, there is nothing more to ask.gives us, there is nothing more to ask.

This is what we call the fullness of life.This is what we call the fullness of life.

Our hearts cannot but rejoice and be thankful.Our hearts cannot but rejoice and be thankful. Our minds cannot but put God and his gifts into Our minds cannot but put God and his gifts into

our memory. We live and grow in pleasant our memory. We live and grow in pleasant memories.memories.

Our souls cannot but soar up into heaven, our Our souls cannot but soar up into heaven, our true home, which can be anticipated now through true home, which can be anticipated now through our proper Christian behavior.our proper Christian behavior.

We, Catholics, believe in the Holy We, Catholics, believe in the Holy TrinityTrinity.. We must be the luckiest and the happiest We must be the luckiest and the happiest

believers in the world.believers in the world. We are We are Trinitarians,Trinitarians, who believe in a super who believe in a super

gracious and merciful God.gracious and merciful God. As As TrinitariansTrinitarians, we live our faith by making the , we live our faith by making the

sign of the cross at the beginning and end of our sign of the cross at the beginning and end of our prayers and liturgies. prayers and liturgies.

We are baptized in the name of the Holy We are baptized in the name of the Holy TrinityTrinity..

In the In the eucharisteucharist, we affirm our faith in the Trinity., we affirm our faith in the Trinity. In the In the eucharisteucharist, we give glory to the Holy Trinity., we give glory to the Holy Trinity. The The eucharisteucharist strengthens our belief in the Holy strengthens our belief in the Holy

Trinity, the holy Community, that makes us holy Trinity, the holy Community, that makes us holy as a community.as a community.

In the In the eucharisteucharist, we participate in the life of the , we participate in the life of the Trinity.Trinity.

Our Context of Sin and Our Context of Sin and GraceGrace

No faith in the Triune God No faith in the merciful

God Does not celebrate Does not acknowledge

God’s greatness Does not relate Does not communicate

Trinitarian faithTrinitarian faith Faith that leads to Faith that leads to

community lifecommunity life Faith that leads to Faith that leads to

thankfulness and thankfulness and celebrationcelebration

Living in the mystery of Living in the mystery of the Trinitythe Trinity

Suggested SongsSuggested Songs

God Father Praise and GloryGod Father Praise and Glory The Living God by Sebastian TempleThe Living God by Sebastian Temple

The Trinity A

Spiritual

Transcript of The Trinity A