Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Call to worship
Everything is given to us from God our Creator, through Jesus Christ our Savior, and in the Holy Spirit our Helper. On this Feast of Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the fullness of life and love that we have in God.
- To the point: The Spirit guides us to all truth. Such a bold statement! That truth is the Holy Spirit — the Life given by the Spirit. Everything the Father has is given to us. An even bolder statement! What the Father gives us is divine Life. And it is for Jesus’ glory that his disciples are empowered by the Spirit to bear what belongs to Jesus and the Father: divine Life. Our triune God holds back nothing from us.
- Connecting the Gospel (John 16: 12-15) to the second reading: Since we have received everything that is of God, the Trinity’s divine life is within us (see Gospel). This life “poured … into our hearts” empowers us to be justified and even to “boast of our afflictions” (Second Reading).
- Connecting the Gospel to experience: Our age has an inherent optimism about unraveling the mysteries of life, whether it be the origins of the universe or the genetic makeup of a person. If there’s a mystery, “We’ll solve it.” This solemnity presents the Trinity as a mystery not to be “solved” or “explained,” but as a Trinity of Persons who share their very life with us.
Centering prayers
The Gospel
(John 16: 12-15)
The Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.
Before mountains, stars, springs and seas
even the foundations of the Earth you were there
as three, as one, in the eternity of your now.
Spirit, thank you for the gift of the truth
of the Father (who gave us his Son),
the Son (who gave us his life),
and the Holy Spirit (who lives in our hearts
as our constant companion now).
Oh, please guide us to the truth in all things.
The First Reading
(Proverbs 8: 22-31)
When the Lord established the heavens I was there.
You gave birth to all creation.
You mothered oceans
and they burst from your womb.
You gave them clouds for their garments
and thick darkness for their swaddling clothes.
When the young ones cried out to you
and roved abroad without food,
you came to nourish them
and hold them and quiet their cry.
And you sowed the seeds of Holy Wisdom
into our own hearts.
Let wisdom’s seeds grow in us now.
We want to parent your climate,
oceans, and all the Earth.
We want to nourish all your people:
good food, and strength to feed them.
The Second Reading
(Romans 5: 1-5)
The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through
the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Holy Spirit, love of God poured out,
strengthen us through grace in our hardships.
Let hope bloom. Turn our brief lives
into eternal love. Pour, drench, flood us.
Copyright © 2022, Anne M. Osdieck
Music for reflection