The Word Among Us

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Meditation
Romans 8:14-17

Beginning in Advent, which is the birth of a new church year, and continuing through to Pentecost, we are asked to follow Mary’s lead by treasuring and pondering everything that God has done for us: God’s plan for creation, his plan to rescue us through Jesus, and his plan to lead and guide the church through the power of the Holy Spirit until Jesus comes again.

Today, as we celebrate Trinity Sunday, we mark a change in direction. Today’s feast acts as a kind of a bridge between the first half of the church year, when we follow the path of salvation history, and the second half, when we are asked to respond to the salvation Jesus won for us.

So today we cross the bridge. We’ve commemorated so much since Advent, and now it’s time to respond. And appropriately, Trinity Sunday sets the perfect stage for our response. On this day, as we ponder and treasure the way God has revealed himself to us, we are confronted with a mystery we will never be able to fathom. And in the face of this great mystery, we might be tempted to ask why God would even care to reveal himself and his love to a people whom he created but who have turned away from him in sin.

It’s only when we connect with the Holy Spirit that we come to appreciate the one word that most clearly describes our Triune God: love. Love is the reason why God creates. Love is the reason why Jesus saved us. Love is the reason why the Holy Spirit has chosen to live in our hearts and mold us into the image of Christ. And love is the reason why God will never give up on us.

So ask yourself today, “How can I best respond to the God who has been so good and kind to me?” But be sure also to ponder God’s love, the love that has moved him to do everything he has ever done for you.

“Pour out your love upon us, O Lord, so that we might know you and walk in your presence each day.”

Deuteronomy 4:32-34,39-40;Psalm 33:4-6,9,18-20,22; Matthew 28:16-20

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, June 11, 2006 >>

Trinity Sunday

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Romans 8:14-17

Psalm 33
Matthew 28:16-20

View Readings

AFFINITY WITH THE TRINITY

"Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before?" —Deuteronomy 4:32

If we believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord, we will live eternally in heaven with the Trinity. A million years from now, when there is no more time, we will be constantly exhilarated, enthralled, and overwhelmed by the Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His love is everlasting. It is always new, fresh, surprising.

We can begin this triune relationship now by becoming disciples of Jesus and being baptized in the name "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). Let us "fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31) and be immersed in God, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:16). Our future is love: an eternal, ever-increasing reception of God's infinite love.

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). "How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!" (Rm 11:33) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!" (2 Cor 13:13)

Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, may my life be nothing other than a relationship with You, the Triune God.

Promise: "You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you back into fear, but a spirit of adoption through which we cry out, 'Abba!' (that is, 'Father'). The Spirit Himself gives witness with our spirit that we are children of God. But if we are children, we are heirs as well: heirs of God, heirs with Christ." —Rm 8:15-17

Praise: Praise the Triune God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit caught in an eternal triangle of love!

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 90 (91)
The protection of the Most High
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. Alleluia.
He who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells under the shade of the Almighty. He will say to the Lord: “You are my shelter and my strength, my God, in whom I trust”. For he will free you from the hunter’s snare, from the voice of the slanderer. He will shade you with his wings, you will hide underneath his wings. His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the plague that walks in the shadows, nor the death that lays waste at noon. A thousand will fall at your side, at your right hand ten thousand will fall, but you it will never come near. You will look with your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For the Lord is your shelter and refuge; you have made the Most High your dwelling-place. Evil will not reach you, harm cannot approach your tent; for he has set his angels to guard you and keep you safe in all your ways. They will carry you in their arms in case you hurt your foot on a stone. You walk on the viper and cobra, you will tread on the lion and the serpent. Because he clung to me, I shall free him: I shall lift him up because he knows my name. He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him: I am with him in his time of trouble. I shall rescue him and lead him to glory. I shall fill him with length of days and show him my salvation. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. Alleluia.

Reading	Apocalypse 22:4-5
They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Short Responsory	?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

Prayer
Let us pray. Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

Mt 28:16-20
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
16	And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.	undecim autem discipuli abierunt in Galilaeam in montem ubi constituerat illis Iesus
17	And seeing him they adored: but some doubted.	et videntes eum adoraverunt quidam autem dubitaverunt
18	And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.	et accedens Iesus locutus est eis dicens data est mihi omnis potestas in caelo et in terra
19	Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.	euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti
20	Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.	docentes eos servare omnia quaecumque mandavi vobis et ecce ego vobiscum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi

Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles

1308-11
Tempera on wood, 50 x 53 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena