The Triune nature of God is the principal mystery of the Catholic faith. It is the first and last horizon of the universe and of history: the Love of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is not solitude, but perfect communion. All three in a great dynamic of love, are so close that they are One God.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Pentecost Sunday, June 15, 2014 (HolyTrinityA)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Mass Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Why do you do the sign of the Cross?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of Exodus, Chapter 34, Verses 4b-6; 8-9
1. Besides his name, what did God reveal about himself to Moses on Mount Sinai? What was Moses’ response to this revelation? What is your response to knowledge of God’s love?
2. If the Lord were to come along in our company, would it mean that God loves us every moment exactly as we are, even though we are “stiff-necked” sometimes? Do you forgive others when they are harsh to you? Can you accept them as they are?
Responsorial Psalm
Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
1. If those courageous young men in the fiery furnace were able to praise God in these words, in spite of their circumstances, the least we can do is to sing His praises within our own relatively comfortable surroundings. What inspires you to sing His praises?
2). Have you undergone hardship or persecution because of your unwavering faith? Give an example.
Second Reading
Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Chapter 13, Verses 11-13
1. What do you know about the Trinity from the following lines of the reading? ”The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” If God’s nature is love, then has he invited us to come along in his company? What are the implications for our community?
2. We can all agree with and/or encourage each other in order to live in peace. How important is this to you? Can you agree with most people? Do you feel the tone of this reading is comforting or admonishing?
Gospel
According to John, Chapter 3, Verses 16-18
1. What did the Father do that tells you he “loved the world”? What did the Son do? What have you done as a response to God’s immense love for the world and for you personally?
2. The Holy Spirit is the Father and Son’s mutual love. How does the Holy Spirit help you enter the eternal circuit of love in God?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share below your reflections on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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This week's Responsorial Psalm is taken from
ReplyDeletethe book of Daniel. The verses are an excerpt
from the songs of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
who had been thrown into the fiery furnace
by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
These three young Jewish men
refused to worship the god of Nebuchadnezzar,
nor would they worship the golden statue
that had been set up by the King.
As a consequence they were cast into
a white hot furnace by the King.
But these brave young men were seen
walking about in the flames, singing to God
and blessing the Lord, using the words
in this week's Responsorial.
An angel of the Lord went down into the furnace and
made the inside of the furnace as though a
'dew laden breeze were blowing through it.'
So the fire in no way touched or caused them pain or harm.
These three in the furnace with one voice sang,
glorifying and blessing God. The unwavering faith of
the three made a strong impression on king Nebuchadnezzar
when he saw that these three young servants
of God had trusted in God and yielded their bodies,
rather than serve or worship the Babylonian god or
a golden statue. The King himself was so overwhelmed
that he underwent a conversion and
exclaimed, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.'
Amen