Scripture: Dt 4:32-34   Rom 8:14-17   Mt 28:16-20

In The Gospel

• The disciples went, saw, worshiped but still doubted

Today

• We celebrate a basic doctrine of our faith – The Most Holy Trinity
•  Yet we doubt
• It is hard to comprehend the three distinct persons of Father, Son and Spirit

The Trinity

• Share the same Divine Nature as God
• Are co-equal – co eternal as reflected in the Creed

The Catechism of the Catholic Church States – Trinity

• Is a central mystery
• Is the source of all other mysteries
• Not meant to be understood with our minds
• Meant to be lived through our hearts living out the Gospel message of Jesus

In the New Testament

• We see the Trinity working in unison
• Annunciation – Father sends the angel Gabriel to Mary
• Through the Holy Spirit – Jesus became flesh
• Jesus’ baptism – The Holy Spirit appears
• Ascension – Jesus gives missionary call to go forth in the name of the Trinity

Sacramental Life of our Church

• Mass we begin with- Trinitarian Formula – Sign of the Cross
• Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, Confirmation – We are signed with the Cross

Sign of the Cross – Stories

• Represents our relationship with God-extended to love of thy neighbor
• Met a parishioner at the cemetery visiting spouse’s grave
• Shared when parking at the cemetery he would see three tall pines
• Pines reminded him of Trinity – he would pray a prayer
• With open eyes we can see many examples of the Trinity around us
• Cutting up apples for the grandkids – I am grateful
• The peel is the Father – Creator holding us together
• The flesh is Jesus the Son who nourishes us
• The seeds are the Holy Spirit – love, peace, joy, kindness, generosity

The Trinity is – A Model of Love

• The Father’s love for the Son
• The Son’s reciprocating love to the Father
• Their love that radiates to the Spirit
• A tri-fold love that the Spirit sends upon each of us
• Each one is made in the image and likeness
• We are reflections of the Trinity, in body, soul, spirit
• We are a temple of the Holy Spirit

Today We Give Thanks – Let’s Pray

• We become a model of love like the Trinity
• We go forth like the disciples to become ripples of the Gospel
• We fulfill Jesus’ mission and our parish mission
• What might you do this week?

Questions for Reflection

• What impacted you from today’s Readings and/or homily?
• How do you understand the Trinity? Which person of the Trinity do you find it the easiest to be in conversation with?
• How do you understand or have you experienced the Trinity as a model of love?

Live Connected

Prayerfully consider how the Trinity can inspire you to be a ripple of HOPE, of love, of compassion, and outreach for others. Act upon it!