Gospel (Jn 3:16-18)
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to judge the world, but that through him the world might be saved. He who believes in him escapes the Judgment; he who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Autres lectures : Ex 34, 4b-6.8-9 ; Ctq Dn 3, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 ; 2 Co 13, 11-13
To understand
One and Triune God
After having celebrated at Easter the Father Creator, the resurrected Son and at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit given to each person, the Church today celebrates the unity of the three persons on the feast of the Trinity.
Saint Paul, facing the people of Corinth (of polytheistic culture) already evokes the three persons of the Trinity and formulates this first Trinitarian blessing to his new Christian brothers: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:13). But this is new. In the Old Testament, God is the only one.
In the 4th century, the bishops gathered at the Council of Constantinople formulated the dogma of the Trinity: Christians by praying to God, father, son and Holy Spirit believe in only one God. It was in the Middle Ages that the feast of the Trinity appeared during votive masses. Trinitarian devotion developed strongly and in the 14th century, Pope John XXII officially included it in the liturgical calendar.
Today, as yesterday, this feast highlights the unity of God, the loving relationship between the three persons and the participation of believers in this divine communion.
Meditate
My faith does not separate the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
God is at the same time a Father “tender, merciful, slow to anger, full of love and truth” (Ex 34:6), a beloved only Son, who came to save men from evil and death, and a Spirit of love who gives the breath of life. They are distinct but still one. Beyond dogma, it is the Christian experience, the most common, which is thus designated to us.
God is not solitary, he is a living communion of love. This communion is our origin and our vocation. The Trinity reminds us that we are made to give ourselves, to love each other: together, to be one, while being many; become one, while remaining yourself.
The disciples, by sharing the life of Jesus, tasted this love of the Father, an open love, which is shared, which spreads. Saint Paul encourages us, and it seems demanding and simple at the same time: “Brethren, rejoice, seek perfection, be encouraged, agree among yourselves, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. » It is through loving relationships with our brothers, in our families, our communities, at work, in our places of service that we will fully realize our vocation.
God does not leave us alone to experience this. Through baptism, baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God allows us to enter into this mystery and participate in it. He invites us to follow his Son, whom he gave us: “Whoever believes in him will not be lost, but will have eternal life. » We just need to believe to be saved, and God gives us the freedom to do so.
God has also left us his Holy Spirit, this breath of life which guides us and sends us. The Spirit makes us enter, live and commune with the very Love of God. God leaves us free to listen to him and follow him.
Pray
O Father, you the creator, source of life, the one who gave us everything,
O Son, you came to save us, to forgive us,
O Holy Spirit who inhabits us, guides us and gives us life,
Come and animate in us your perfect love,
Make our hearts like yours,
Help us to live from your love, to share it with our brothers.
Teach us to give of ourselves every day, for your glory and for the salvation of the world.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen
