I came across a post saying, “My family in Gaza are now all martyred (dead). I do not need your condolences and I do not need your prayers. I knew this would happen and I had prepared myself for this moment. What I need is a ceasefire.”

Troubled, I clicked on the post and went to their profile, where I saw a timeline full of real-time war updates. I found it unfair that while I lay in bed, safe and comfortable, there are people dying on the other side of the world because of evil people. Frustrated, I prayed, “God, they are so, so evil. How could they do such a thing? I want to hate them.” But in the silence, I heard His voice. “My child, they are Mine too.”

It stopped me dead in my tracks. Jesus died for our enemies too. It doesn’t make them less evil, and it doesn’t justify what they did by any means. But it’s humbling to realize that Jesus died for them—and everyone—just as He died for me, a sinner, as well. It didn’t make me feel better, but it helped put things in perspective. God is God of all, and if He could save me, then He could save them too. Karren Renz P. Seña (karren.sena@gmail.com)

reflect

Do you have trouble forgiving or understanding someone? Don’t change them. Don’t fight them. Pray for them instead.

Lord, when I can’t forgive others, help me see them through Your eyes.

Saints Valerius and Rufinus, pray for us.

First Reading | Proverbs 8:22-31

Today’s reading is like a hymn to the glory and beauty of creation. As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the basis of all life: God in three persons yet one God. How do we explain this? We simply need to have faith in Him and live the truth of His love for us, which He has shown by first creating us and then redeeming us. More than understanding the ins and outs of God, we need to trust the truth of His infinite love for us.

²² Thus says the wisdom of God: “The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; ²³ from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. ²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water; ²⁵ before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; ²⁶ while as yet the earth and the fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world. ²⁷ “When the Lord established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep; 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth; ²⁹ when he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command; ³⁰ then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, 31 playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

⁴ When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place—⁵ what is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) ⁶ You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. ⁷ You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet: (R) ⁸ All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, ⁹ the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R)

Second Reading | Romans 5:1-5

Saint Paul teaches that the love of God is the basis of everything good. The Holy Spirit has been entrusted with the task of revealing this truth to us. The Father creates the truth; Jesus reveals the truth of His love; and the Spirit maintains this revelation for all eternity. Sounds complicated, but it is not. Love is only as complicated as you want it to be. Love is the simplest reality of life. We know that God’s love is true.

¹ Brothers and sisters: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Gospel | John 16:12-15

The Holy Spirit is sometimes known in theological circles as the love of the Father and Son made manifest. Their love for each other is so great that it becomes its own being. We are called to share in the Holy Trinity’s love. God wants us to experience His love. Are we ready for His love? Ready or not, His love is there for us to experience through faith in Jesus Christ.

Gospel Acclamation

Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.

¹² Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. ¹³ But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 KINGS 7 - 9 today.

The word discrimination is trendy these days. Many are shouting against it, and I am one of them. Discrimination means a lack of respect for the differences that exist among us. Discrimination results when we focus our attention on our differences and not on what unites us.

The mystery of the Trinity—three Persons in one God—teaches us to balance unity and distinctions. The Father is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit. The Son is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son.

The three Persons in the Trinity are distinct from one another. Nevertheless, there is unity in the Trinity. The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. They share in the one Godhead. The Trinity is not the unity of a single person but a Trinity of one substance.

Our faith in the Trinity is not limited to a mere profession of faith. It should radiate in how we live our lives in our community. When we shift our focus from our differences to our similarities, we will start to live in unity.

In what aspects are we similar? All of us are created according to the image and likeness of God. Jesus came to save us all. We all received the same Holy Spirit. In all of these, we are the same.

Thus, living our Trinitarian faith is a way to cross out discrimination. The Trinity is kaisahan sa gitna ng kaibahan (unity in the midst of diversity). Fr. Eugene Fadul

reflection questions

How do you treat people who are different from you?

Holy Trinity, help me see You in every person I encounter. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________