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Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 164
Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."
R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever!
Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn 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.
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Via USCCB
Happy Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity! It is tempting today to treat the Trinity like a complex theological puzzle we need to solve, but the readings suggest something far warmer. From God revealing His "merciful and gracious" name to Moses, to John’s Gospel reminding us that God sent the Son not to condemn but to save, the message is clear: God is a community of love that spills over into our lives. God isn't a distant, solitary figure; He is a dynamic relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit inviting you to step inside that circle of love and make your home there.
Let’s look at Moses in the first reading. He does something incredibly bold. After acknowledging God’s greatness, he admits, "This is indeed a stiff-necked people," yet immediately asks God to "come along in our company." This confronts our modern tendency to hide our messiness before we pray. Moses teaches us that we don't need to be perfect or "fixed" before inviting God in; we invite the Trinity into our lives *because* we are stiff-necked and stubborn. Whether you are struggling with a recurring sin or just a bad attitude at work, that is exactly the place where the "Lord, slow to anger" wants to pitch His tent.
The Intentional Sign: We often rush through the Sign of the Cross like it's a fly-swatting gesture. This week, every time you make the sign, slow down completely. consciously think "Father" (Creator), "Son" (Redeemer), "Holy Spirit" (Sanctifier) to ground yourself in the Trinity.
The "No Condemnation" Challenge: Jesus came not to condemn (John 3:17). Pick one day this week to fast from criticism. If you catch yourself judging a coworker, a family member, or a politician, immediately say a short prayer for their blessing instead.
Moses felt safe enough to be honest about his people's flaws; do you feel safe bringing your "stiff-necked" or shameful areas to God, or do you try to hide them?
St. Paul commands us to "live in peace." Is there a specific relationship in your life where you have been waiting for the other person to change, rather than initiating peace yourself?
"God so loved the world." If you truly believed that God delights in you right now, in this moment, how would your anxiety level change?
The Trinity is a model of perfect community. In what ways has your independence or isolation kept you from experiencing the "fellowship of the Holy Spirit" through others?
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