Most Holy Trinity, Cycle B

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, in You we live, and move, and have our being. You are the Father of all creation. You gave us Your only begotten Son, our Redeemer. You have made us holy through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Praise to You, Almighty God in Three Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Glory to You forever! Amen!

Commentary 

1st Reading: Dt 32-34, 39-40

Christians, Jews, and Muslims agree that there is One true God; although our different faiths understand the oneness of God differently. Nevertheless, this Truth is a common point for dialogue between the three faiths.

Our three faiths also agree that our God is the creator of all that is visible and invisible and is still active in our lives. When we doubt these Truths, we consult our holy texts.

Deuteronomy reminds us that our God is powerful and very active in our lives. If there ever is a question, this First Reading reminds us to fix in our hearts, “that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.”

The reading reminds us that God is both imminent (on earth) and transcendent (in the heavens) and has an active role in all that we say and do. Although it may be difficult to recognize the active presence of the One true God in our lives at all times, we rely on both Scripture and our faith to support us in times of doubt.

Question:

What do you rely on when the presence of God is not felt in your life?

2nd Reading: Rom. 8:14-17

Although Christians, Jews, and Muslims believe in God who is One, each of our theological traditions differ on how we acknowledge God’s active presence among us. To consider that we could be on equal footing with our Creator would be considered “blasphemy” for many. And, while Christians do not claim to create ourselves, we are one with the Creator God. Additionally, we do not claim to make ourselves Holy, yet we are one with the Holy Spirit. Finally, we do not redeem ourselves. Still, we are one with Christ the Redeemer. Adopted by the Spirit, “we are coheirs with God and heirs with Christ.”

This, of course, is where we differ from Jews and Muslims and, for that matter, all other traditions. Claiming to be coheirs with God is quite a theological statement!

Notice, however, that we are not saying that by our nature we are God. Nor were we born through natural generation to be coheirs with God. Rather, through faith in Christ and by the power of God through Baptism, we have a share in the divinity of Christ who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.

Question:

How do you reflect your oneness with God?

Gospel: Mt. 28:16-20

As coheirs to the Kingdom of God, we are given the command to “go out!” This Gospel passage, called the “Great Commission,” tells of Jesus gathering His disciples before He ascends to the heavens and giving them the command to “make disciples of all nations,” to “baptize them in the name” of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and finally to teach (or catechize) them.

For 2,000 years, we have been making disciples and celebrating their oneness with God as coheirs through the sacrament of Baptism.

Of course, Jesus reminds us that — though He will ascend into the heavens and be transcendent — He will also be with us, “until the end of the age.” Though Jesus has taken His place at the right hand of the Father, He is with us in the Church.

Our faith teaches that Our God in Christ is present in a number of ways; most importantly, in the proclamation of the Word, the sacramental priesthood, the sacraments, and in the community of all the baptized (coheirs).

Question:

How are you responding to the “Great Commission” of Jesus to “go out” and make disciples?

This Week’s Task  

Are you aware of as friend or family member who has not been a part of the Church in a while or who has not been blessed to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)?

Be a part of the Great Commission and invite them to be a part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the parish. Ask the parish office when RCIA gathers and how you can be an active part of bringing your friend to the sacraments.

You may even want to sponsor your friend throughout the entire RCIA process.

Group Prayer

The following prayer is said together:

Glory be to the Father, Who by His almighty power and love created me, making me in the image and likeness of God.

Glory be to the Son, Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell, and opened for me the gates of heaven.

Glory be to the Holy Spirit, Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism,

and continues to sanctify me by the graces I receive daily from His bounty.

Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity, now and forever.

Amen.

The prayer continues with Psalm 33.

Psalm 

Response: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Upright is the word of the LORD,

and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right;

of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;

by the breath of his mouth all their host.

For he spoke, and it was made;

he commanded, and it stood forth.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,

upon those who hope for his kindness,

To deliver them from death

and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield.

May your kindness, O LORD,

be upon us who have put our hope in you.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Conclude with an Our Father  

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.