Catechism Links[1]
CCC 202, 232-260, 684, 732: the mystery of the Trinity
CCC 249, 813, 950, 1077-1109, 2845: the Trinity in the Church and her liturgy
CCC 2655, 2664-2672: the Trinity and prayer
CCC 2205: the family as an image of the Trinity
 |
“Holy Trinity”
by Hendrick van Balen, 1620s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Proverbs 8:22-31
Commentary on Prv 8:22-31
The author of Proverbs here reflects on the eternal nature of the plurality of persons in God. Wisdom here is used as a metaphor for Christ and the Holy Spirit, the first becoming incarnate and the second coming on the heels of the first. Concurrently we are reminded of the creative gift of the Triune God who delights in his people.
CCC: Prv 8:22-31 288
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (2a) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
Commentary on Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Psalm 8 is a song of thanksgiving for the creation event described in Genesis. The song marvels at God’s great work, his creation, and the life he gave us. The singer expresses the humility of a people who, through no merit of their own, God has made little less than angels and given a place of honor. Having done all this, mankind accepts great responsibility for stewardship.
CCC: Ps 8:6 2566, 2809
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: Romans 5:1-5
Commentary on Rom 5:1-5
In this passage St. Paul declares the peace of Christ which flows to the faithful from the Father through Jesus who cast out sin and death for our salvation. The complete acceptance of our earthly station is made possible by the Holy Spirit who flows from the Father and the Son into our hearts.
“Popular piety frequently construed reverses and troubles as punishment for sin; cf John 9:2. Paul therefore assures believers that God's justifying action in Jesus Christ is a declaration of peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ displays God's initiative in certifying humanity for unimpeded access into the divine presence. Reconciliation is God's gift of pardon to the entire human race.”[5]
CCC: Rom 5:3-5 2734, 2847; Rom 5:5 368, 733, 1820, 1964, 2658
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Commentary on Jn 16:12-15
Jesus’ farewell speech continues. His reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit is explained further, and the unity of the Holy Trinity comes into focus. The Lord tells his friends that this Advocate will give them what is also his (the Lord’s). He tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will not bring new revelations, but will allow them to understand the things that have already happened. And in that revelatory understanding, Christ will be glorified because he and the Father are one.
CCC: Jn 16:13-15 2615; Jn 16:13 91, 243, 687, 692, 1117, 2466, 2671; Jn 16:14-15 485; Jn 16:14 244, 690
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
At the beginning of our Diaconal Formation Class on Christology, Father Phil Gallagher asked each of the individuals in our class to rise and give a definition of the Trinity. After each person stood and gave forth pious wisdom, Father would say: “You’re a heretic, sit down.” To try to put into words that which is beyond human understanding is a dangerous thing.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this:
“237 The Trinity is a mystery of faith in the strict sense, one of the "mysteries that are hidden in God, which can never be known unless they are revealed by God". To be sure, God has left traces of his Trinitarian being in his work of creation and in his Revelation throughout the Old Testament. But his inmost Being as Holy Trinity is a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone or even to Israel
So many people over the years have said, “What does that tell us? It’s a mystery.” We need to look at the traces of its effect upon us in scripture to answer that question. Today we are happily exposed to a divinely inspired reflection that answers the question we would ask. In Proverbs we see the ancient understanding of how God existed in that unknowable pluralistic state from before the world was. We rejoice in the consequences of that diversity because it gives us the ability to be touched by our creator on so many levels.
Today we thank God the Father for creating heaven and earth and choosing us as His special possession. We thank God the Son for revealing the amazing love He has for us by sacrificing himself so that we might have lives of peace and happiness. And we thank the Holy Spirit for coming to us at our baptism and guiding in the ways of peace throughout our lives.
Pax
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The image used today is “Holy Trinity” by Hendrick van Balen, 1620s
[5] See NAB footnote on Romans 5:1-11
No comments:
Post a Comment