First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31
Reflection:
The book of Proverbs is all about wisdom. We all need wisdom in life. Wisdom is more than just knowledge. It is the ability to choose what is right. And all true wisdom comes from God. Therefore, in order to truly be wise, we must seek to know God. To be wise, we must come to know the truth and then act upon it. In the Old Testament, wisdom is often personified. In other words, wisdom is presented as a person, like we see in this Sunday’s first reading. Here, the “wisdom of God” speaks and expresses particular action. In the New Testament, we come to understand that Jesus Himself is the wisdom of God. Jesus, who is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, is the very wisdom of God incarnate. In fact, knowing that makes sense of this first reading. In this reading, the wisdom of God says that it was present at creation—“when the Lord established the heavens I was there…” Jesus, being fully God, was present at creation. In fact, He is the creator alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit. We affirm this every time we profess the Creed, for we say of Jesus, “through him all things were made.” To be wise, then, requires a relationship with the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is only through being in communion with the one, true God that we will be able to know what is right and do it.
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Reflection:
The one, true God, who is a Trinity of love, invites us into a relationship with Him. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches us that God is a relationship of perfect love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity welcomes us as sons and daughters into this family communion of love. This Sunday’s second reading reminds us of our identity as Christians. We have “been justified by faith” (i.e. forgiven of our sins) and, therefore, we “have peace with God.” Because of the saving work of Jesus Christ, we can be united with the Trinity in perfect communion. Sin separates us from God, but God has chosen to make a way for our sins to be cleansed so the separation can be bridged. It is only by the grace of God that this gift of salvation is offered to us. And, as a result, we have “hope of the glory of God.” That is, we have the opportunity to be united with the Trinity for all of eternity in heaven. Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, became man and died and rose so that this would be possible. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, has been given to us to guide us on the journey to heaven. Our part is to persevere in faith. This perseverance includes enduring “afflictions.” If we hold fast to our faith and remain close to God through those afflictions, they will produce good fruit in our lives (e.g. endurance, proven character, and hope). Whatever we may be facing, we can be assured that God is with us. The Trinity loves us and will give us all the grace needed to endure hardships and grow closer to God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s gospel reading we hear Jesus promising to the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit. Last week, we celebrated Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit first descended upon the Church. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church today, doing exactly what Jesus promised He would do—“guide you to all truth.” The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, comes the fullness of divine life in us and in the Church. The Holy Spirit never leads us anywhere except to God’s will, which is the truth. In this gospel reading, we see the unity of the Trinity expressed. The Holy Spirit offers us what belongs to Jesus and what belongs to Jesus also belongs to the Father. There is not disunity or inconsistency among the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Rather, their will is of one accord. The Trinity can be a confusing doctrine of our faith. It is, in fact, what we call a mystery (i.e. something we cannot fully understand). This is because God is infinite and, therefore, beyond our finite comprehension. If we could fully understand God, then that would make us equal to or greater than God. Still, that does not mean we are totally in the dark. God has revealed Himself to us and the Church has preserved and sought to understand that revelation as best as possible. So, what can we know? First, there is only one God. We profess this every time we begin the creed: “I believe in one God…” We do not worship three different Gods. Second, this one God is not solitary but is, in His essence, a communion of persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all fully God. Third, these three persons are distinct from one another. The Father is not the same as the Son and the Son is not the same as the Holy Spirit, etc. Fourth, these three divine persons are one in substance. As we say in the creed, the Son is “consubstantial” (i.e. one in being) with the Father. Is your head spinning yet? Remember that the Trinity is a mystery. We’re not supposed to fully grasp this truth, but we are called to have a relationship with the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Application:
- Do you desire to be wise? If so, seek God and you will gain wisdom.
- We all will face various struggles, trials, and tribulations in life, but what will we do when we face them? Have you trusted God through the “afflictions” in your life? How can you better prepare yourself to persevere in faith through future “afflictions”?
- The Trinity is a relationship of love and He invites to be a part of that divine communion. Will you respond with a ‘yes’ to this divine invitation?
