Sunday, June 15, 2003

Trinity Sunday

1st Reading: Dt 4:32-34, 39-40

Moses said to the people, "Ask of the times past. Inquire from the day when God created man on earth. Ask from one end of the world to the other: Has there ever been anything as extraordinary as this? Has anything like this been heard of before? Has there ever been a people who remained alive after hearing as you did the voice of the living God from the midst of the fire?

"Never has there been a God who went out to look for a people and take them out from among the other nations by the strength of trials and signs, by wonders and by war, with a firm hand and an outstretched arm. Never has there been any deed as tremendous as those done for you by Yahweh in Egypt, which you saw with your own eyes.

"Therefore, try to be convinced that Yahweh is the only God of heaven and earth, and that there is no other.

"Observe the laws and the commandments that I command you today, and everything will be well with you and your children after you. So you will live long in the land which Yahweh, your God, gives you forever."

2nd Reading: Rom 8:14-17 (Listen to MP3 - Life of the Spirit)

All those who walk in the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God. Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit that makes you sons and daughters and every time we cry, "Abba! (this is Dad!) Father!" the Spirit assures our spirit that we are sons and daughters of God. If we are children, we are heirs, too. Ours will be the inheritance of God and we will share it with Christ; for if we now suffer with him, we will also share Glory with him.

Gospel: Mt 28:16-20 (Listen to MP3 - Mission of the disciples)

The Eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Jesus, they bowed before him, although some doubted.

Then Jesus approached them and said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world."

Commentary

Jesus ordered his disciples to go back to Galilee where it all began. They were not to forget the power of his call, how they followed him on dusty roads, getting hungry and thirsty along the way. They were not to forget nights spent in caves or the houses of friends. They were not to forget his teaching, much of which they did not understand. They were not to forget his miracles which he called signs. They were not to forget the final journey to Jerusalem where he died. Those memories must be jealously guarded, for now that he is risen, everything takes on a new meaning, a meaning that makes sense of every person's journey, in any nation, till the end of the age, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Read also: • Gospel Reflections by Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R.
          • Biblical Commentaries from Diario Biblico

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