Imago Dei

Holy Trinity Sunday

07 June 2020

First reading                                                                        Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9
With the two tablets of stone in his hands, Moses 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, ‘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.’

Second reading                                                        2 Corinthians 13:11-13

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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 to Nicodemus,
‘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 Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan

In the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis told a beautiful anecdote when a child asked him a rather tough question: “Father, what did God do before creating the world?” The Holy Father, however finding it very difficult to respond, answered: “Before creating the world, God loved because God is love. But it was such a love that he had in himself, that love between the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. It was so big, so overflowing, that he was so big that he could not be selfish. It had to get out of himself – to have someone to love out of oneself and then God created the world.”

God is love. Love is the essence of God. It is the very love that created the world and for the world, it is the reason why he gave up himself on the Cross. The Scriptures paints for us a beautiful image of God. In the First Reading taken from the Book of Exodus, we can see the face of a loving Father who is the “Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity” (Exodus 34:6) He remains faithful to His promise of love and compassion for His people and accepts us as His own despite of our wickedness and sins (Exodus 34:9). 

We are created in the image and likeness of God. For God is love, we too are called to love. As we have received the tremendous love of God, we are invited to become bearers of love. In the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, we are reminded to remain true to our identity as Christians. As I have loved you, so you must love others! Saint Paul offers simple yet practical ways: Mend your ways. Love transforms our wicked ways so that we may be able to love purely and freely. Encourage one another. Love inspires the soul of the beloved. Through compassion, we feel the security of the Divine. Agree with one another. Love is not angry nor despises others. Love promotes understanding and mutual respect. Live in Peace In the world of division, confusion and hatred, we are called to the fellowship of love. And if we have followed this advice, Saint Paul assures us that the God of love and peace will be with you. 


In the Gospel, we can see the outpouring love of God for the world. A love that is not selfish nor greedy but a love that is willing to give himself without any conditions. A love that doesn’t condemn, but a love that finds no fault of the beloved. A love that amidst the pain and suffering continues to give one’s life selflessly. May this image of love be our example as we trod the daily walk of life. We are the Imago Dei – the images of God. May other people see the very love of the Triune God in our lives. 

Prayer

O DIVINE LOVE! Teach us to love like You. In the ordinariness of life, may we preach Your love in our simple words and actions. May our lives become living witnesses of the same love You have given on the cross.  Amen.