THE MOST HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY-A

I Reading: Exodus 34:4-6.8-9: Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion.

II Reading: 2 Corinthians: 13:11-13: The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: John 3: 16-18: God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity reminds us of the indwelling presence and the unity of one God, the Three Divine Persons who share their life with us in the Baptism, Sign of the Cross, Creed, Doxology, etc.

God is love; God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger and rich in kindness and compassion and the creator of the universe.

Jesus is the Son of God, the redeemer who reveals the love of God and forgives the sins of the world and gives the eternal life. Jesus came into the world to teach us God’s unlimited love for everyone.

The Holy Spirit is the outpouring of the love of God and His Son Jesus Christ who sanctifies us and the world. The best way to start knowing God is to discover his kindness and compassion and obey His commandments.

The presence of the Holy Trinity we find in the first creation story of Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image and to our likeness.” St Paul greets the Corinthians with the Trinitarian formula in today’s second reading. Mary was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Spirit. He was baptized with the Holy Spirit, he was appointed by the Spirit and proclaimed the Good News to the poor in the temple, he was led to the desert by the Spirit and finally, he breathed his spirit to his disciples and sent the Advocate, the Holy Spirit upon his apostles and Mary on Pentecost.

The three Divine Persons (God, Son and Holy Spirit) become the source of our unity, peace and true joy on the earth and in heaven after our death. The gift of the Holy Trinity to bear fruits (Gal 5:22f) in us to imitate the unity and mutual love that exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our mutual love will yield a precious fruit: deep joy and peace in life.

 

Revelation: God’s Great Love, John 3:16-18

This is the world’s most well-known Scripture. Briefly and to the point, Jesus revealed God’s great love.

1. The fact: God so loved (v.16) the world and created human beings in his image and likeness. The creation is God’s love for humanity.

2. The evidence: God gave (v.16) his son only begotten Son Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. The purpose: To save (v.16) the world and humankind.

          a. From perishing

          b. To eternal life

          c. By believing

4. The proof: God sent His Son (the Incarnation) (v.17)

a. Not to condemn

b. But to save

5. The means: Through Him (v.17)

Thought: God’s love is that God took the initiative to save humans. Humans did not seek to save himself or themselves; God sought to save him/her. God gave His Son so that we might be forgiven and saved. God is the seeking Saviour.

How can we experience the love, joy, peace and unity of the Holy Trinity in our faith journey of witnessing life in our family, church and the world?

 

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 PENTECOST SUNDAY-A

I Reading: Acts 2:1-11: They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.

II Reading: 1 Cor: In the one Spirit we were baptized.

Gospel: John 20:19-23: The Great Charter of the Church-Jesus Appears to the Disciples

The Great Charter of the Church-Jesus Appears to the Disciples

 

Today we celebrate the second most solemn day in the year of worship: the feast of Pentecost. The disciples meet the risen Christ on the same day in the evening and the risen Jesus serves his disciples.

The word “Pentecost” is a Greek word that means “the 50^th”, in our case, “the 50^th day”: for the Jews, it meant the 50^th day after the feast of the Passover. For us Christians, it means the feast that comes on the 50^th day after Easter.

This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection. What would He say and talk about? What would be the topic of conversation and the subjects covered? Whatever He chose to say would be of critical importance. It is this that John focuses on: the subjects and the topics discussed when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

1. The disciples were hiding in fear (v.19): They were locked up and the doors were shut, which means God protected them.

                    a. Was the same day: at night

                    b. Discussed reports

                    c. Jesus appeared suddenly

2. Subject 1: The risen Lord-His presence was very real (v.19-20)

                    a. His message: Peace: The resurrected Jesus brings real peace and joy upon the fearful disciples. It is the reconciling peace that the world cannot give them except the Lord.

                    b. His wounds: Evidence: The real presence of Jesus Christ

                    c. His effect: Unbelievable joy and gladness when they saw Him

3. Subject 2: The great commission (v.21): The disciples/Church has been given the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of the sins of the sinners. Penitents need repentance and conversion to come back to the Lord.

4. Subject 3: The Holy Spirit (v.22-23): The resurrected Jesus breathed on them as a sign of giving new life, new Spirit, new creation as the Lord God ‘breathed into man’s nostrils the breath(the Spirit) of Life(Genesis 2:7); and Ezekiel 37:9, breathe into these slain and they shall live’ (the vision of the Dry Bones).

The Spirit of God and the same Spirit of Jesus Christ are going to guide them and teach them everything, and finally empower them with courage and strength to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all. The Spirit-filled Church has the authority to continue the fourfold ministry of assurance, mission, the Holy Spirit and authority to His people today.

Do we open our doors of hearts and minds to enter Jesus into our lives to receive the absolute peace and joy of the risen Lord?

How do we experience the loving presence and protection of the Lord during the Pandemic lockdown Coronavirus Covid-19?

Thought: The disciple is sent forth to proclaim and bear witness to the salvation of God. The disciple is the prophet and witness of the living Lord.

·       Christ is the Way; the disciple points the Way.

·       Christ is the Truth; the disciple proclaims the Truth.

·       Christ is the Life; the disciple shares the Life.

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SUNDAY- 6^TH WEEK OF EASTER –A

 

I Reading: Acts 8:5-8.14-17: They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

II Reading: 1Peter 3:15-18: In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.

Gospel: John 14:15-21: I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate.

The Holy Spirit: Who He is, 14:15-26

There are three great Scriptures that deal with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at length.

1. The Identity of the Holy Spirit or who He is (Jn 14:15-26)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7-15)

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)

The greatest help the believers are to receive is the very presence of God Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit. It is this that Jesus now reveals. He reveals the Holy Spirit, His identity, who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit). (cf. Rom 8:1-17 where the power of the Holy Spirit is revealed).

1. Fact: If a person loves Jesus, he will keep His commandments (v.15)

2. He is the Counsellor, the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16)

3. He is the Spirit of truth (v.17)

a. The world cannot accept Him

b. The believer does receive Him and know Him

4. He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20)

a. A spiritual presence not a physical one

b. A living and eternal presence

c. A living union between God, Christ and the believer

5. He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22)

a. The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ

b. The special presence is questioned

6. He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24)

a. Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus

b. Is the love and presence of God and Christ

c. Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ

d. Is assured by God Himself

7. He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)

a. The facts

          1) He is promised

          2) He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus

b. His purpose

          1) To teach the believer all things

          2) To help the believer to remember

Thought: The purpose of the Holy spirit in the believer’s life is twofold.

1) To teach all things. Both the words and the life of Christ, both the Truth and the Life, both the Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and the practice, both the principles and the conduct, both the morality and the behaviour.

2) To help remember: to help remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trial when the truth is needed. In a moment of trial the Holy Spirit either infuses the believer with the strength to endure or flashes across his mind the way to escape (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).

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SUNDAY- 5^TH WEEK OF EASTER –A

 

I Reading: Acts 6:1-7: They selected seven men full of the Holy Spirit.

II Reading: 1Peter 2:4-9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.

Gospel: John 14:1-12: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Jesus’ Death Delivers Troubled Hearts, 14:1-3

Jesus’ death delivers troubled hearts. The disciples had reason to be troubled. Several things had just happened that would disturb anybody of people. Divisiveness (Lk 22:24-30), desertion and betrayal (Jn 13:18f), separation from the Lord (Jn 13:33) and denying Jesus ( Jn 13:38) all these things grasp the impact of what Jesus was about to say. Jesus said that deliverance from trouble comes through five things.

1. Delivers through trust and belief (v.1)

2. Delivers through the hope for God’s house and its rooms and mansions (v.2)

3. Delivers through Jesus’ work (v.2)

4. Delivers through Jesus’ return (v.3)

5. Delivers through an eternal habitation with Jesus (v.3)

 

Another Outline: Jesus’ death delivers troubled hearts

1. His commandment: trust, believe in me (v.1)

2. His assurance: God has a house (v.2)

3. His departure: to prepare (v.2)

4. His great promise: to return (v.3)

5. His great purpose: an eternal reunion (v.3)

 

The Way to God is by Jesus Alone, John 14:4-7

 

Jesus declared in unmistakeable terms how a person gets to God, and He makes it clear: there is no other way to God.

1. Jesus’ destination (v.4-5)

          a) The destination is known

          b) The way is known v.4

          c) Thomas’ contradiction and scepticism

2. The way to God is Jesus himself (v.6)

3. The destination is God (v.6)

4. The only way to God is Jesus (v.6)

5. The only way to God is now revealed-unmistakeably (v.7)

The Embodiment of God is Jesus Himself, John 14:8-14

 

This is one of the most astounding claims ever made-Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of God Himself.

1. Philip’s request-show us the Father, a dazzling sight (v.8)

2. The revelation: Jesus is the full embodiment of God (v.9)

3. The clear evidence (v.10)

          a. God’s presence

          b. Jesus’ Words

          c. Jesus’ works

4. The clear challenge: Believe the claim of Jesus (v.11)

5. The clear promises: Are conditional- to the person who believes on Jesus (v.12-14)

          a. The power to do great works

          b. The answer to all prayers

Thought: Note the contradiction and scepticism of the world even today. The world proclaims: “We do not know where God is, not really. Even if He exists, we can only seek Him the best we can, trying to find out just where He is. Every person must find and discover his/her own way and hope has found it. (Jn 8:19; 16:3; Acts 17:23; 28:27; Eph 4:18).

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