Dear sisters and brothers, We should live Trinitarian lives, in love with one another, not in isolation. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our
Bible Study
Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity
31 May 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharings
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Dt 4:32-34.39-40
 Moses said to the people, 32 "Ask now of the days of old,
before your time, ever since God created man upon the
earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did
anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard
of? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking
from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? 34 Or did any
god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the
midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and
wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched
arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your
God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
 39 This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth
below, and that there is no other. 40 You must keep his
statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper, and
that you may have long life on the land which the LORD,
your God, is giving you forever."

3. 1st reading: Dt 4:32-34.39-40
 Moses said to the people, 32 "Ask now of the days of old,
before your time, ever since God created man upon the
earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did
anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard
of? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking
from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? 34 Or did any
god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the
midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders,
by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by
great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you
in Egypt before your very eyes?
 39 This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth
below, and that there is no other. 40 You must keep his
statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper, and that
you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your
God, is giving you forever."We focus on God, whom we believe as the
FATHER.

4. 1st reading: Dt 4:32-34.39-40
 Moses said to the people, 32 "Ask
now of the days of old, before your
time, ever since God created man
upon the earth; ask from one end of
the sky to the other: Did anything so
great ever happen before? Was it
ever heard of? 33 Did a people ever
hear the voice of God speaking from
the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
34 Or did any god venture to go and
take a nation for himself from the
midst of another nation, by testings,
by signs and wonders, by war, with
his strong hand and outstretched arm,
and by great terrors, all of which the
LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt
before your very eyes?
 39 This is why you must now know,
and fix in your heart, that the LORD is
God in the heavens above and on
earth below, and that there is no
other. 40 You must keep his statutes
and commandments which I enjoin on
you today, that you and your children
after you may prosper, and that you
may have long life on the land which
the LORD, your God, is giving you
forever."
Commentary
 Vv. 32-34 talk about the
greatness of the God of
Israel.
 The God of Israel (Yahweh)
is an unprecedented God.
No one was like him before.
 Four Questions:
 Did anything so great….?
 Was it ever heard of?
 Did a people ever hear…?
 Or did any god venture…?
 God is a God who does
wondrous things for Israel.
 No one can duplicate him.

5. 1st reading: Dt 4:32-34.39-40
 Moses said to the people, 32 "Ask
now of the days of old, before your
time, ever since God created man
upon the earth; ask from one end of
the sky to the other: Did anything so
great ever happen before? Was it
ever heard of? 33 Did a people ever
hear the voice of God speaking from
the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
34 Or did any god venture to go and
take a nation for himself from the
midst of another nation, by testings,
by signs and wonders, by war, with
his strong hand and outstretched arm,
and by great terrors, all of which the
LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt
before your very eyes?
 39 This is why you must now know,
and fix in your heart, that the LORD is
God in the heavens above and on
earth below, and that there is no
other. 40 You must keep his statutes
and commandments which I enjoin on
you today, that you and your children
after you may prosper, and that you
may have long life on the land which
the LORD, your God, is giving you
forever."
 V. 39 reiterates that God is
one. It reminds us of the 1st
commandment.
 V.40 speaks of the
implications of the greatness
of God.
 Keep his statutes and
commandments… you and
your children after you…
 V. 40 also specifies the
benefit of being obedient:
 That you may prosper
 That you may have long life

6. Reflections on the 1st reading
 The Father we are worshipping is a great God.
 He is a powerful creator-God and liberator-God,
worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving.
 We should also see Him as a law-giver God.
 This is where the problem lies.
 We don’t see Him this way, that is why, we
consciously or unconsciously violate His laws.
 If we want progress, we, including our children
and children’s children, should not violate God’s
laws.

7. Resp. Psalm: 33:4-5. 6. 9. 18-19. 20. 22
 R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his
own.
 4 Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy.
5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the
earth is full.
 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made; by the
breath of his mouth all their host.
9 For he spoke, and it was made; he commanded, and it
stood forth.
 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
19 To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of
famine.
 20 Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our
shield.
22 May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put
our hope in you.

8. Resp. Psalm: 33:4-5. 6. 9. 18-19. 20. 22
 R. (12b) Blessed the people the
Lord has chosen to be his own.
 4 Upright is the word of the
LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy.
5 He loves justice and right; of
the kindness of the Lord the
earth is full.
 6 By the word of the LORD the
heavens were made; by the
breath of his mouth all their host.
9 For he spoke, and it was made;
he commanded, and it stood
forth.
 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are
upon those who fear him, upon
those who hope for his kindness,
19 To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of
famine.
 20 Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
22 May your kindness, O LORD,
be upon us who have put our
hope in you.
Commentary
 The responsorial psalm exclaims
how lucky are God’s people.
 V.4 gives a positive outlook on
God’s word and works. They are
upright and trustworthy
respectively.
 V.5 enumerates three priorities of
God:
 Justice, righteousness and
kindness
 Vv.6 and 9 speak of God’s
creative powers.
 God creates the heavens by his
word.
 God creates the hosts (heavenly
bodies) by his breath.
 As God speaks, things come into
being.

9. Resp. Psalm: 33:4-5. 6. 9. 18-19. 20. 22
 R. (12b) Blessed the people the
Lord has chosen to be his own.
 4 Upright is the word of the
LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy.
5 He loves justice and right; of
the kindness of the Lord the
earth is full.
 6 By the word of the LORD the
heavens were made; by the
breath of his mouth all their host.
9 For he spoke, and it was made;
he commanded, and it stood
forth.
 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are
upon those who fear him, upon
those who hope for his kindness,
19 To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of
famine.
 20 Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
22 May your kindness, O LORD,
be upon us who have put our
hope in you.
 V.18 encourages people to
believe in this God.
 God is kind to those who fear and
trust him.
 In v.19, God saves them from
death in spite of famine (crisis).
 V.20 expresses the man praying
his hope that someday soon God
will come to help.
 V.22 is a prayer directly
addressed to God that God may
be with the people who trusts in
him.

10. Reflections on the Psalm
 With the psalm, we are helped to articulate
God’s greatness.
 His words and deeds speak of his greatness.
 We humans and believers cannot but put our
hope in him, especially in times of trouble and
crisis.
 No believer should ever despair, because God
can help even by means of the breath of his
mouth.

11. 2nd reading: Rom 8:14-17
 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of
God are children of God. 15 For you did not
receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into
fear, but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" 16
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

12. 2nd reading: Rom 8:14-17
 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of
God are children of God. 15 For you did not
receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into
fear, but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" 16
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.
We focus on the Holy Spirit.

13. 2nd reading: Rom 8:14-17
 14 For those who are
led by the Spirit of God
are children of God.
15 For you did not
receive a spirit of
slavery to fall back into
fear, but you received
a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry,
"Abba, Father!" 16
The Spirit itself bears
witness with our spirit
that we are children of
God, 17 and if
children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if only
we suffer with him so
that we may also be
glorified with him.
Commentary
 V.14 makes a wonderful statement for
those who are led by the Spirit of God.
 They are considered children of God.
 In v.15, the Spirit of God liberates us from
slavery and fear.
 It liberates us to cry out, “Abba,” to enjoy
sonship /daughtership under God the
Father.
 V.16 states that the Spirit of God bears
witness (points to other people) that we are
God’s children.
 V.17 states how lucky are God’s children.
 They are heirs with Christ and will be
glorified with God.
 But there is a condition.
 Only if they also undergo suffering.

14. Reflections on the 2nd reading
 We are God’s children if we are led by the Spirit of God.
 We must consider it a big deal, a big thing in our lives to
be numbered as God’s children.
 Let us not take it for granted. This is non-negotiable. It is
a disaster if we compromise it.
 If we stand by it, we will be more intimate with God.
 We can call God, “Abba” (daddy).
 We live in freedom, not in fear, not as slaves to anyone.
 Do you live in freedom?
 Are you free to give yourself to others, even if it pains?
 When we are led by the Spirit and have freedom, it does
not mean we are free from pains.

15. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
 16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When
they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18
Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power
in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I
have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, until the end of the age."

16. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
 16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When
they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18
Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power
in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, until the end of the age."
We focus on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Holy Trinity)

17. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Eleven Disciples
 16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which
Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped,
but they doubted.
Jesus’ command
 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you.
Jesus’ presence
 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
A simple outline!

18. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Eleven Disciples
 16 The eleven disciples went
to Galilee, to the mountain to
which Jesus had ordered
them. 17 When they saw him,
they worshiped, but they
doubted.
Jesus’ command
 18 Then Jesus approached
and said to them, "All power in
heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Go, therefore,
and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all
that I have commanded you.
Jesus’ presence
 And behold, I am with you
always, until the end of the
age."
Commentary
 The eleven disciples go to Galilee (where
Jesus ascends into heaven, acc. to Mt; but
according to Luke, ascension happens at
Bethany) (v.16)
 V.17 tells of the mixed feelings of the
apostles on the resurrected Jesus.
 Vv.18-20 are tagged as the great
commission: to make disciples. The new
disciples must be taught to observe all
commandments of Jesus.
 The apostles will baptize in the name of the
Holy Trinity.
 The Greek form for name is onomati (not
onomasi, plural) which is correctly
translated into English. If Matthew used
the plural form, the translation would read
“In the names of the F,S.HS.”
 Jesus assures us of his presence always in
v.20b.

19. Further commentary
 The mention of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
(the Trinity) is in passing only.
 It is mentioned in the context of Jesus’ ascension into
heaven.
 We must not forget that that Jesus who
commissioned them is the resurrected Christ.
 The Trinitarian formula is expressed in the context of
his resurrected body and ascension.
 More particularly, the Triune God is mentioned in the
context of making disciples, through baptism.
 In the beginning of the gospel, there was baptism in
water, then in the Holy Spirit, now in the name of the
F,S, and HS.

20. Commentary, con’t
 The picture of God-hood is now complete. God’s self-
disclosure is now complete in its formulation. Never in the
previous verses that the persons in one Godhead were put
together under one singular name.
 The encounter with the Trinity is experienced in the rite of
baptism (immersion).
 Baptism here is the beginning of Christian discipleship.
 The mark of a Christian disciple is obedience to God’s
commandments.
 With the great commissioning, the apostles become universal
teachers. They will be teachers on the go, teachers in the
frontiers, transmitting what they have learned from Jesus to
their new contacts.
 Jesus assures them of his ever presence.

21. Reflections on the gospel
 We are not worshipping an abstract God out there.
 The triune God is here to give us work.
 No one is unemployed in the eyes of God.
 As baptized Christians, we are enjoined to make
disciples and teach them God’s ways.
 There should be no such thing as un-catechized
and un-instructed and un-committed Christians.
 The one who is giving orders is none other than
the Holy Trinity, the great One.

22. Tying the 3 readings
 1st reading is the action of the Father.
 2nd reading is the action of the Holy Spirit.
 3rd reading is the mention of the Trinitarian
formula (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), who
commission us into action.
 The psalm helps us to celebrate the goodness
and kindness of the Triune God in our history.

23. How to develop your homilies
 Begin with a short comment on the feast of the Holy
Trinity.
 This feast comes after the Pentecost.
 Now the three persons are celebrated on the same day.
 We, catholics, are Trinitarians.
 The Holy Trinity is a mystery to live by (not something to
explain). St. Augustine accepts the difficulty in explaining
this mystery.
 According to him, we must first believe in order to
understand, not the other way around, otherwise, we will
never come to believe.
 We should emphasize what the Triune God does to us
humans.

24.  The 1st reading affirms that the Father does
wondrous and great things.
 He does the impossible.
 He is a powerful God who saves his people
from destruction.
 He is also a God who exacts obedience to his
loved ones.
 Prosperity (material and spiritual blessings) is
promised by God to those who fear the Lord
and keep his commandments.
 Evildoers (corrupt government officials, those
who induce others to sin or who destroy
others) cannot progress.

25.  The 2nd reading tells that the Holy Spirit helps
us build relationship with the Father.
 Through the Spirit, we become God’s children.
 We can call God our Father.
 Through the Holy Spirit, we can be intimate
with God in the way we address ourselves to
him.
 We have a privileged place in the eyes of God.
 We are entitled to inherit his kingdom.
 We enjoy life here and now and in the life after.

26.  In the gospel reading, Jesus commissions the
apostles to make disciples, baptizing in the
name of the Trinity.
 The great commission is also addressed to
us, believers.
 We are also commanded to teach.
 We teach that in one God, there are three
divine persons (Blessed Trinity).
 And all the 3 persons in the Blessed Trinity
are active in our history.
 Each Christian should show his/her
eagerness to make disciples and teach them
how to love the Trinity.

27.  Teaching is a very relevant topic nowadays since we
are beginning the school year.
 Our educational system has always been problematic.
We lack classrooms, good teachers, good text books,
instructional materials. No hefty salaries.
 Curriculum caters to the interest of the few, not pro-
poor, etc.; the system roboticizes students (makes
them idiot).
 It does not teach them how to be critical (to ask why, for
what reason, whose interest), if what they are studying
conforms to the teachings of Christ.
 Students nowadays enrol in a course that will
provide financial stability, not necessarily to
develop themselves as persons and human
beings.

28.  Education, according to the gospel, must
lead students (disciples) to obey the
commands of God (love, relationship, harmony,
forgiveness, love for the poor, justice and peace,
respect for the rights of others, etc.)
 Education must teach human and spiritual
values.
 It must lead us to act and live like the Holy
Trinity (for ever in love, for ever one, for ever
acting for the other, communitarian).

29.  In the eucharist, we receive Jesus in the form of
bread and wine.
 The eucharist is a way of Jesus’ fulfilling his
promise to be with us till the end of time.
 The eucharist reminds us of our communion, not
only with Jesus, but with the Holy Trinity.
 The mass contains many Trinitarian formulas: the
sign of the cross, the glory, the opening prayer, the
blessing, etc.
 The mass is a celebration of the mystery of the
Holy Trinity.

30. Our Context
 Apostates
 Heretics
 Failure to perceive God’s
movements in one’s life
 Waste of time and money
in many schools, public and
private, due to poor
facilities
 No interest in mission of
many catholics
 Feeling inadequate to carry
out the teaching duties of
Christians
 No study habits
 Fond of (dangerous) short
cuts
 Communitarianism
 Strong faith in the
power of God
 High educational
standards
 Creative and liberative
communities
http://olasianofm.googlepages.com/home

31. Suggested Songs
 God Father Praise and Glory
 The Living God