Wear It At All Times

Trinity Sunday
18 May 2008


First reading: Exodus 34:4 - 9
Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first and, with the two tablets of stone in his hands, he went up the mountain of Sinai in the early morning as the Lord had commanded him. And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there.

He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger rich in kindness and faithfulness.’ And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ he said ‘let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.’

Psalm or canticle: Daniel 3:52 - 56
May you be blessed, Lord, God of our ancestors,
be praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed be your glorious and holy name,
praised and extolled for ever.
May you be blessed in the Temple of your sacred glory,
exalted and glorified above all else for ever:
blessed on the throne of your kingdom,
praised and exalted above all else for ever.
Blessed, you fathomer of the great depths, enthroned on the cherubs,
praised and glorified above all else for ever;
blessed in the vault of heaven,
exalted and glorified above all else for ever.

Second reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11 - 13
In the meantime, brothers, we wish you happiness; try to grow perfect; help one another. Be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with the holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Gospel: John 3:16 - 18
Jesus said:
‘Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.

Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano

A company was celebrating its patron's (and namesake's) feast. The event for that year highlighted the saint's life as Maka-Diyos at Maka-Tao (godly and humane). As flyers were being distributed to employees, one member of staff complained, "Mabuti pa ang patron natin, maka-Diyos at maka-tao..." alluding to how badly the management treats its employees. He couldn't identify nor relate the saint to how things are being run in their workplace.

This holds true with our profession of faith. If we go against St Paul's exhortation in the second reading (i.e. living in unity, peace, and solidarity with others), others couldn't see nor make sense of our faith in God, let alone relate it with daily living. If this happens, we prevent people from believing in the Lord when it is OUR duty to bring them closer to Him. If these people refuse to believe and be condemned as Jesus mentions in the Gospel, there is no one to blame but ourselves.

Christians across the world have one and only one ID card and that is love. Make sure you 'wear' it at all times and, at all costs.






O Most Holy Trinity, Undivided Unity, Holy God, Might God, God Immortal be adored! Amen.