The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Lectionary: 165 (NAB Translation)
The Sunday after Pentecost is celebrated in honor of our God as the Most Holy Trinity. This week and the next week help us to focus on the realities we experience in the Lord.
Reading 1
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
The first reading from the book of Deuteronomy requires some additional context to fully understand the message communicated. At this point in history, the Israelites were reaching the end of their 40 years in the desert. The years had been long, and enough time had passed that many in the group had never experienced or remembered their time in slavery in Egypt. Moses had to remind them of how they were freed from the oppression of the Egyptians.
At the time, it was also very common to believe in multiple gods, but Moses reminds them that it is necessary to believe with all of your heart in the one true God in order to inherit the promise land.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
- (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Reading 2
Romans 8:14-17
This week’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that our adoption into the family of God makes the Lord our Father. God doesn’t want to be seen as the big guy in the sky. He wants to intimately united with us, and if we cling to Christ, we will be glorified with Him in heaven. It’s not some unrealistic fantasy, it’s a promise we can receive if we live out that love for the Lord.
Alleluia
Revelation 1:8
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20
This week’s Gospel from St. Matthew is a short visitation of the Ascension of Jesus. His final instruction to the Apostles was go forth and baptize all nations, but the most important part of this is His instruction to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three in equal dignity and worship.
Even though the word “Trinity” cannot be found in the Bible, we hear several occasions when Jesus equals Himself to the Father the Spirit to show us that the one true God is three persons. This is part of the great mystery of faith, that we will experience in Heaven.
Gospel Meditation from Bishop Vásquez
Reflection question
In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples to baptize in the name of the Trinity. Do you know the date of your baptism? Discover the date of your baptism and celebrate it – it is the day we are born with the promise of eternal life.
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