Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and all three of the readings for mass today are unusually short for such an important occasion. The second reading is the only one that even mentions the Trinity. Saint Paul wrote, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
However, Saint Paul also wrote these words which are full of the Holy Spirit, “Mend your ways encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” This is the essence of the Trinity itself. Unity, love and peace. God and Jesus love one another so much that their love becomes a third person, the Holy Spirit, which binds them together as one. Isn’t that beautiful? This is what Saint Paul is calling us to be like as well, in the second reading for mass. He’s calling the new Christians, and all of us as well, to live in unity, love and peace. We become what we give. By giving the gifts of unity, love and peace to each other, we grow in likeness of the Holy Trinity.
If you look at the first reading for mass today and the gospel as well, there are two things that really stand out. In the first reading from the book of Exodus, God came down from heaven to tell Moses that he was a merciful God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity. This was after Moses threw the tablets of stone with the ten commandments written on them, down the mountain and broke them.
God’s people were worshiping a golden calf in Moses’s absence, and yet, God Himself was not all that angry with them. Moses then proceeded to invite God to come along in their company, even though they were wicked and sinful. He asked God “to receive us as your own.” What a beautiful verse this is, if you really stop and think about it. We too, are wicked and sinful in our own ways, yet we still ask for God to accompany us during our lives. We want Him to “receive us as your own” as well. In spite of the things that we all do that are wrong, we still crave God. We crave belonging to Him as His people.
The second thing that really stands out, is that God didn’t come back down to earth again, but He did send His son to us, because he loves us. The first verse in the gospel is very famous, and that is for a very good reason:
“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
Aren’t these words absolutely beautiful? They must surely be the most beautiful words ever recorded in the bible. They are truly living words. These words take on a life all their own and come alive in our hearts.
There may be some people in our lives who only seem to notice our faults, and never seem to let us forget about our sins. Arguments sometimes happen in marriages, friendships and families, and things will get brought up and held against a person that happened a long time ago. But, God isn’t like that at all. He only shows us acceptance, kindness, love and fidelity. God’s goodness is almost enough to make you want to cry. Acceptance, love and loyalty is something every human being craves and God completely understands this. The gospel says that, “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.”
The one common thread that runs through all three of the readings for mass today, which reflects the very essence of the Trinity, is about relationships, love and unity. God sent his Son into the world, for the forgiveness of our sins, yes, but also to teach us how to live more like them. If God and Jesus can forgive and forget our sins, and let our past go, surely we can do the same for one another?
Daily Mass Readings:
Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9 / Deuteronomy 3: 52-55 / Corinthians 13: 11-13 / John 3: 16-18
