GLORY BE …
Blessed Trinity Sunday! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the abiding love of God our Father & the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you (adapted from 2 Corinthians 13:13 & the Greeting in the Introductory Rite of every mass).
Today, on the Octave Day of Pentecost, the Church invites us to give our attention to the Most Holy Trinity. We are invited to worship and adore the One, True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Undivided Trinity, Perfect in Unity, Equal in Glory and Majesty. I’ve got to admit – I don’t really know what I can write today about the Holy Trinity, since His Mystery is way beyond human thinking & comprehension. So, instead of trying to unravel the mystery, I hope that this short reflection can help us connect more closely with, and embrace more lovingly, God, Who is Love (cf 1 John 4:8,16).
Before we begin, I’d like to share what St Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor of the Church says, from selected parts of the 2nd Reading of today’s Office of Readings:
‘The Father makes all things through the Word and in the Holy Spirit, and in this way the unity of the holy Trinity is preserved. Accordingly, in the Church, one God is preached, one God who is above all things and through all things and in all things. God is above all things as Father, for he is principle and source; he is through all things through the Word; and he is in all things in the Holy Spirit.
‘Writing to the Corinthians about spiritual matters, Paul traces all reality back to one God, the Father, saying: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone.
‘Even the gifts that the Spirit dispenses to individuals are given by the Father through the Word. For all that belongs to the Father belongs also to the Son, and so the graces given by the Son in the Spirit are true gifts of the Father. Similarly, when the Spirit dwells in us, the Word who bestows the Spirit is in us too, and the Father is present in the Word…
‘This is also Paul’s teaching in his second letter to the Corinthians: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. For grace and the gift of the Trinity are given by the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. Just as grace is given from the Father through the Son, so there could be no communication of the gift to us except in the Holy Spirit. But when we share in the Spirit, we possess the love of the Father, the grace of the Son and the fellowship of the Spirit himself.’
This priceless teaching from St Athanasius & our 2nd Reading from Romans 5:1-5 really goes to the heart of what really matters – faith in the Lord Jesus Christ & his saving death; living in a state of grace, glory & hope; experiencing God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that God has given us (at Pentecost, & at our Baptism).
What then, is the right attitude we should adopt towards so great a gift of the Love of God? It is to give God all the Glory. The Spirit glorifies Jesus, as spoken by Jesus in today’s Gospel (John 16:12-15). Jesus also glorifies God the Father (cf John 17:5) & makes known to us all God’s name & His love (cf John 17:26).
A great prayer to give glory to God is the Glory Be: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
We all know this prayer by heart & many of us recite it many times each day. But, do we mean what we say? Or do we just ‘go through the motions” & recite it mechanically & perfunctorily? How can we do it with sincerity of heart & with deep faith?
A 1st good start is by always making a reverential bow as we invoke the Name of the Holy Trinity. But beyond the gesture / posture, it’s important for us to be aware of the Holy Spirit guiding us along as we pray. As we are moved in prayer by the Holy Spirit, we give glory to God as Father & dare to call Him “Abba! Father!” (cf Romans 8:14 & Galatians 4:6). The Holy Spirit enables us to give glory to Jesus Christ so we can truly declare Jesus is LORD (cf 1 Corinthians 12:3). And we glorify the Holy Spirit by worshipping Him as God & allowing Him to lead, guide & teach us in our prayer & actions.
Here's a beautiful worship song glorifying the Most Holy Trinity, called “Glorify Thy Name”. Do sing along with it & give God all the glory.
https://youtu.be/hYa883IuD1o?si=FZf8zVw4TvATRKAi
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead