"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit"
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Today we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons. We trust in the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who together draw us into their great circle of love.
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The First Reading offers a beautiful description of creation. Wisdom is present at the birth of all that is. She witnesses and rejoices beside the Lord, delighting in the formation of the world and of humankind.
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The Psalm praises the greatness of the Lord’s work and his deep care for humanity. We, too, are invited to be stewards of his creation.
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Wanting to assure the disciples that they will never be left alone, Jesus foretells the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will guide them – as that same Spirit continues to guide us. What the Spirit of truth tells us comes from Jesus, who in turn receives everything from the Father. In this way we are drawn by God’s love into the life of the Trinity itself. (Gospel)
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St Paul (Second Reading) tells us that through our faith in Jesus, we have peace with God and a share in his glory. ‘God’s love ... poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given us’ strengthens us to face suffering with hope and joy.
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Because of the love poured out onto us, we are called to show that love to the world. In this Jubilee Year, let’s pray to see how we might be a delight to others, sharing God’s love with everyone we encounter, even in the smallest of ways.
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A reflection when you’ve only a minute …
Since you are children of God, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out: Abba, Father. Communion Antiphon
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. Gospel
The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil. Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ, ’God’s Grandeur’
Song Vinh Church. Stained glass. Holy Trinity. Vietnam
Further Reflection
Gospel John 16: 12–15
The Gospel chosen for Trinity Sunday Year C is an extract from St John’s Farewell Discourse, where Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit and the Father and their three-way relationship. He is here seeking to comfort his confused and anxious disciples.
The gender of the Holy Spirit The ‘Paraclete’ of St John’s Gospel (parakletos: advocate or lawyer) is male, although the word for ‘spirit’ in Hebrew (ruach) is feminine, and the New Testament Greek word (pneuma) is neuter. Biblical translations (as here) tend to refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘he’, though some find it helpful to think of the Spirit as female.
‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.’ Jesus is aware that his disciples do not fully comprehend what is going to happen. This will only happen once they have received the Holy Spirit.
‘When the Spirit of Truth comes …’ The Holy Spirit, sometimes also called the Advocate or the Paraclete, is here called the Spirit of Truth. It is an expression also found in other Christian documents around the time John wrote his Gospel.
‘… he will guide you into all the truth …’ The disciples won’t face the future alone. As Christians we are always seeking truth, and the Spirit will guide us into a deeper knowledge of the Truth.
‘ and he will declare to you the things that are to come.’ The Spirit will enable the disciples to come to some understanding of the events about to happen from the Last Supper to the Resurrection.
‘He will glorify me …’ The Spirit is not imparting new teaching, but rather is in total harmony with both the Father and the Son to whom he will give glory. The Spirit of Truth will help us experience God the Father and his Son Jesus in our daily lives.
To aid our reflection on the Sunday readings each week we are reproducing, with permission, content from St. Bueno's Outreach. If you would like to know more about them or access their guided prayer resources, 'Prego', you can contact them via their website.​​​
Understanding the Trinity
The Holy Trinity is a central doctrine in Christianity, defining God as one being existing in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These three are considered co-equal and co-eternal, sharing the same divine nature.
God the Father: The creator and sustainer of all things, often associated with the Old Testament.
God the Son (Jesus Christ): The incarnation of God, who lived on Earth as a human being and is believed to have died and risen for the salvation of humanity.
God the Holy Spirit: The active presence of God in the world, often associated with divine power and influence.
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The concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, is complex and many efforts have been made over centuries to provide a simple description or illustration - perhaps most famously by St Patrick's use of the shamrock.
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You can read more about the doctrine and meaning of the Holy Trinity here.
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit ,reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
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Pope Francis, Jubilee Prayer