THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
the God who is, who was, and who is to come. REV 1:8

DEUTERONOMY 4:32-34,39-40 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Moses, speaking to the people, recalled how God dealt with His people when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt with mighty hand, outstretched arm, and how with fearsome terrors he crushed Pharoah and his army and obliterated them. 

But we, O Lord, the new people of God, have experienced far greater signs and wonders wrought by You, the Incarnate Word of the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God of Love, God of Mercy, God of Power who makes of the children of men sons and daughter of God Most High. What You did for the children of Israel pales in comparison for what You have done for us in sending Your Son as the Lamb of Sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. 

Beloved, our grateful and loving response to God who first loved us and saved us leading us from darkness into His marvelous light, must always be to keep His commandments. Lord Jesus, Your commandments are not difficult to obey because You make it possible by pouring Your Spirit into our hearts. He is our Helper and our Paraclete. 

‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’

PSALM 32(33):4-6,9,18-20,22 ©

For the word of the Lord is faithful

and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.

By his word the heavens were made,

by the breath of his mouth all the stars.
He spoke; and it came to be.
He commanded; it sprang into being.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

ROMANS 8:14-17 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The Spirit descended after Your ascension into heaven. We need the Holy Spirit as the arid and parched land needs water to bloom and bear fruit. Thank You for the free Gift of the Holy Spirit given to us at our baptism making us a child of God and heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. Without the Spirit, St. Paul tells us, we cannot say, 'Jesus is Lord' but the Holy Spirit makes living for the Lord and dying for the Lord a joyous experience for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God - the Spirit of Joy - the Spirit of Truth - He is the essence of both the Father and the Son. This is the Spirit whom God has generously poured into our hearts. He is gentle and kind, compassionate and loving. He does not force us to do anything that is against our will but prompts gently and encourages us lovingly, and when we offer Him a docile spirit, and humble and obedient hearts He can make great saints of us. All we need to do is give Him permission to do so.

Thank You, Father, Son, and Spirit for taking by the hand not angels but mortal beings.

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.

MATTHEW 28:16-20 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You arranged to meet the eleven on the mountain in Galilee. This is 40 days after the resurrection. You met them often during this period walking through closed doors, talking to them, opening their minds to understand the Scriptures and to recognize how clearly You were the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. One more time, at Your Word, they miraculously caught a large haul of fish after slaving all night and catching nothing. You invited them to eat breaking that You had prepared for them on the shore - bread and fish were already on the fire. You invite them to eat, “Come and have breakfast.” You took the bread, reminiscent of the Last Supper, and gave it to them to eat. You did the same with the fish. They ate and were satisfied. You then entrusted Your Bride, the Church, to Peter after his triple confession of love thus negating his triple denial of You.

Now, the time has come for the final goodbye before You ascended to Your Father. St. Matthew records that of the 11, despite everything, some hesitated. This is why O Lord, we so desperately need the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who made it possible for the Apostles to carry out the mission You entrusted to them: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

Without the help, the graces, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit we would make little spiritual progress. Thank You Father, and Son for sending the Holy Spirit who deigns to live in our sinful, broken hearts and tenderly and encouraging nudging us along the Way that leads to eternal life.