June 16, 2019 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
PRV 8:22-31
Thus says the wisdom of God:
“The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
from of old I was poured forth,
at the first, before the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains or springs of water;
before the mountains were settled into place,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
nor the first clods of the world.“When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
when he made firm the skies above,
when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
when he set for the sea its limit,
so that the waters should not transgress his command;
then was I beside him as his craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
playing before him all the while,
playing on the surface of his earth;
and I found delight in the human race.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place —
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.ROM 5:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.JN 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.”The Gospel of the Lord.
Homily
Last summer, I have noticed the many posts in Instagram and Facebook that used #familygoals or #friendshipgoals. Many families and group of friends spent time together to bond through their summer escapade and vacation. It was just wonderful to see families and friends coming together to celebrate the gift of family and friendship.
Aside from this, there is another #familygoal and #friendshipgoal that show us a deeper meaning of what family and friendship are really all about. What I am referring about is the feast that we celebrate this Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
Moreover, today as a parish, we also celebrate in a very special way the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It would be good for us then, to see and discover through our readings the invitations for us today.
The Book of Proverbs tells us how the wisdom of God nurtures life. The wisdom of God creates and recreates, animates and gives life. This tells us of the love of the Father-Creator that overflows to us, to every living and non-living being. This wisdom is manifested in the many wonders that we witness in our world. So, look around you, see and realize how the wisdom of God is revealed to us everyday. This, indeed, is #familygoal #friendshipgoal with the Father-Creator whose wisdom gives and nurtures life.
Moreover, in the letter of Paul to the Romans, St. Paul expressed his #friendshipgoal with Jesus. Paul personally felt and experienced God’s love and forgiveness for him through the person of Jesus. In fact, Paul was overwhelmed by this love and affection showed by Jesus to him. Paul could not even imagine it on how Jesus would appear to him and forgive him and still love him after all those persecutions and evil that he had done. Thus, Paul also experienced such confidence of being loved as a friend and as a son. This is, certainly, #familygoal for Paul with Jesus.
In today’s Gospel too, Jesus gave comfort to his friends who felt anxious and worried because he was leaving soon. As a friend and brother to the disciples, Jesus will not leave them alone. Jesus will never abandon them. Consequently, the Holy Spirit comes to give support, guidance, comfort and confidence to us, disciples of the Lord, who are anxious, fearful and doubtful. This is the best expression of God to us because He comes to give us peace and confidence, dispelling our fears and anxieties. Certainly, this is also our own #familygoal and #friendshipgoal with the Holy Spirit.
Such manifestation of God is also very evident in the life of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Mary was a wonderful creation of the Father-Creator. Mary is a dear and special daughter of God, most favored among all women. Why? Aside from that she was chosen, Mary had an intimate friendship with God. That’s why, through her, the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us, making himself one of us and for us.
This is the very reason why she became the mother of Perpetual Help because she brought closer to us the giver of life, the source of wisdom, the spring of love and mercy, the Prince of Peace. All of this was made possible by God because Mary was a very close friend of God and a true daughter of the Father.
Now, we realize how the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, manifest in the Bible and in our own lives. There is a need now for us to be constantly aware of God’s presence so that we too will become more grounded in our faith and as well us in our many relationships.
So, there are three hash tags that I want you to remember and to hold on as we continue to live our Christian life.
First, #Nurturing. As God the Father nurtures the whole creation, as a person nurture your talents and gifts so that you may be able to develop and realize your every potential in the way God desires it. As a parent, leader or professional nurture the people who are under your care so that they too will be able to realize their potentials.
Second, #BuildFriendship. As Jesus came and dwelt among us, he encountered people personally by building friendship with them. This is evident on how he gathered and called his disciples. Through a personal encounter, Jesus built lasting and intimate friendships. Thus, as a person, make friends not enemies by showing kindness and generosity towards others.
Third, #ReachOut. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he promised that the Holy Spirit shall come upon us to remind, teach and guide us on our way to God. This is God’s way of reaching out to all of us from one generation to another. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence dwells in us. That is why, be daring enough to reach out to others, make your presence felt by those who need a friend. Be bold enough to extend and give yourself for the sake of others, for that brother or sister who may be struggling right now. Be there for that person. Be God’s presence for those who are troubled.
In this way, then, we will be able to share in the loving and intimate friendship of the Most Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the Trinity also will become truly alive in our lives, not just in our words and gestures but also through our generous and kind actions. Hinaut pa.
Jom Baring, CSsR
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 