The Most Holy Trinity Sunday - Year A
June 11, 2017
Gospel: Jn 3:16-18
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him might not perish (1) but might have eternal life. For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn (2) the world, but that the world might be
saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever
does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the
name of the only Son of God.
http://www.usccb.org
The difficult words
(1)To perish means to die.
(2)To condemn is to judge
someone guilty and deserving of punishment.
This week’s spotlight
The Trinity
Jesus taught us that he is the Son of God and that his
Father is also our Father. As he promised, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. It is
hard for our minds to understand how three can be one. Many saints have used
examples to help us understand the Trinity. Saint Patrick used the shamrock,
which has three leaves but is one plant. Other saints have used the example of
a candle. Though one candle, it has a flame, heat, and light. Still others have
used the family, where there is a father, mother, and child, but one family
united in love. Though the Trinity is a great mystery, it is the beautiful
reality of love.
In the middle of Mass, we sing or say a chant that
comes from both the prophet Isaiah and the Book of Revelation, It is called the
Sanctus (Latin for "holy") because it honors the greatness and
holiness of God. At the beginning of the chant, we repeat "holy"
three times in honor of the Father; the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At the end,
we particularly honor the Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is about to come to
us in Holy Communion: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
Reflection
This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
The word “Trinity" was first used by Christians to express the truth that
God is both three (tri-) and one (unity). It expresses, really, that God is
love! God is a love that bonds so strongly that three can actually be one.
God’s love is so great that he chose to create us. God’s love is so great that
he sees us as his children, and wants us to call him “Father.” The Father’s
love is so great that, even when we disobeyed God and lost his friendship, he
sent his Son, Jesus, to save us and to show us how to love one another. Jesus,
who is God, loves us like a brother. Jesus loves us so much that he kept his
promise to send his disciples the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who is God, is God’s
power in us to love one another. So today we celebrate God’s love. His love is
always at work in the world, leading us to be one with him, and one with each
other in love.
Discussion questions
1.Who are the three persons in one God?
2.What do we believe about God the Father?
3.What does God the Son do for us?
4.How does God the Spirit help us?
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. God, our
Father; with your Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, you are one God, one Lord.
Through the Holy we cry out to you: Abba! Father!
This week…
Welcome the love of
the Father in the Holy Spirit
Gestures
of love are a sign of the presence of God in our lives. Take a moment each day
to reflect upon the acts and gestures of love and tenderness that you receive
from your family. Write
down on a piece of paper how they help your
faith in god grow.
Responding to God's love includes trying to see others
as our brothers and sisters. With your friends it's easy. However; there may be
some children in your school whom you never talk to. Try to show interest in
what they do. They, too, are beloved children of God.
Maze Puzzle
Source: usccb.org
- Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com
–usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm