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Sunday, May 30, 2010

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Trinity Sunday


Proverbs 8:22-31
Romans 5:1-5
Psalm 8:4-9
John 16:12-15

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the trinity: a mystery of love

"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." —Romans 5:5

God created the human race (Gn 1:27), and the Holy Trinity "found delight in" us (Prv 8:31). However, humanity sinned and forfeited Trinitarian fellowship. Undeterred, the Triune God took unprecedented, cosmic action to not only restore this lost fellowship, but to give us the possibility of a divine intimacy which far exceeded anything we could ever have imagined (Eph 3:20).

God the Father so loved the world that He sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world to die in our stead so that by believing in Him we might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). By accepting Jesus in faith, we who were lost and faithless could now be "at peace with God through" Jesus (Rm 5:1). As a groom longs to love his new bride, Jesus and the Father so longed to pour out Their love into our restored hearts. However, as the prodigal son was unable to open his heart to fully receive the outpoured love of his father (Lk 15:21), so we could not handle such awesome love. So the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts, which had been restored to fellowship but unable to receive His love. Finally the Father and Son could pour out Their love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5).

The Triune God has only begun lavishing an eternity of love on us (1 Cor 2:9). We "cannot bear" all this (Jn 16:12); it's like drinking from a fire hose! Therefore, the Father and the Son mercifully help us receive Their abundant love by pouring the Holy Spirit into our hearts (Rm 5:5). Alleluia! Praise the Holy Trinity!

Prayer:  Triune God, why do I hide from Your torrent of love when Your love is what I long for? (Ps 139:7; Sg 2:14) Help me receive the Spirit more fully so I can embrace all You give me.

Promise:  "Being the Spirit of truth He will guide you to all truth." —Jn 16:13

Praise:  Praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever!

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 9, 2009

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