Next Sunday’s Readings……..……

                May 18, 2008

                                    Solemnity Of The Holy Trinity

                                    Theme: Salvation – Do We Need It?

First Reading: Exodus 34:4B-6, 8-9

            The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious

God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and

fidelity.

Moses had asked for a particular favor, to see the God he

served so faithfully. God agreed to pass by Moses without

revealing the Holy Face to him, since no one can see God and

live. When God does pass by, Moses is granted two things: a

glimpse of God’s beauty and the chance to hear God pronounce

the divine Name. So this is the nature of God’s self-revelation:

beauty and the Name. God chooses to reveal his divinity in terms

of beauty, mercy, graciousness, kindness, and fidelity. What

more do we need to know about God? When have you seen

the face of God as described to Moses? Can you locate

such a face in your photo albums, in magazines, or in a

work of art?

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree

with one another, live in peace, and the God of

love and peace will be with you.

How many people do you know who live in harmony and

agreement, encouraging each other rather than seeking conflict

and domination, preferring the way of reconciliation and love?

Well, actually, we might know a few such people, and if we’re

honest, we have to admit that it’s not impossible to live this way.

Most, however, just aren’t there yet. And some aren’t even

heading in that direction. Some of us like the way of conflict and

domination. Power is our thing. And the only way to get it is to

be willing to stomp over other people. That’s worldly power but

there is another kind of power, the kind that empties itself and

becomes a channel for divine purposes. It is a benevolent

power that chooses to persuade rather than coerce, a power

willing to sacrifice itself rather than destroy and conquer. It is

the power of love, and it is the only power stronger than death.

Who shows you the example of peace and agreement,

encouragement and reconciliation?    

Gospel: John 3:16-18

For God did not send his Son into the world

to condemn the world, but that the world

might be saved through him.

Christianity is all about salvation. What good is salvation? Who

needs it? What do you get when you’re saved? One imagines

that if salvation were such a valuable commodity, everybody

would be after it. Every year, business major graduates flood

the market with the goal of selling you something. But not just a

thing but to sell you on the idea that you need the thing, lots of

things or you’ll never be happy. But how many people dedicate

themselves full-time to convincing you that the kingdom of God

is the only true state of happiness? How much time each week

are you exposed to media campaigns on billboards, TV, radio,

the Internet, newspapers, and magazines? Compare that with

the time you hear the word of God proclaimed to you. In how

many outward ways do you testify to your faith?

Faith Response: Let us bless the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Spirit! Let us praise and exalt God above all for

ever!

Extracted, with permission granted for use, from Exploring the Sunday Mass

Readings copyright 2008 by Twenty-Third Publications .

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