Reflecting on the Word

By Dr. Karla J. Bellinger

I am remembering a Sunday morning at Mass, as we stood to sing  before the reading of the Gospel. In the pew behind me, a little blond  boy sang “Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!” in his four-year-old voice at  the top of his lungs. Exuberantly! Loudly! Innocently, with joy in  his heart. 

Do you think that the angels and saints in heaven sing like that  little guy? Exuberantly, loudly, innocently, with joy in their hearts?  Can you hear them? “Alleluia!” to the Holy of Holies. “Alleluia!”  to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “Alleluia!” to the One-in-Three. 

What about us adults? On Trinity Sunday, we use metaphors of  clovers and candles to wrap our minds around the concept of One in-Three. We strain to understand God. We un-grand the grandeur  of the “Great I Am” so that we “get it.” But we don’t “get it.” It is as  though we try to capture the radiance of the sun and cup it in our  hands. 

Concepts are important. At the same time, the Intimate One  glows and whispers within us, “I am more than ideas. Go deeper.  Dwell in me.” The Big God of the Universe bursts into our grown-up  rationalizations and shouts, “I am more. Go bigger. Dwell in me.”  The grandeur of the living God permeates all that is. 

Those loud and innocent “Alleluias!” can be ours as well. We are  not to live a listless Christian life that limps along only on ideas. We  can recapture the exuberance of faith, that innocence of being four  years old and loving God! The Father-Son-and-Holy-Spirit is real.  The power of the Trinity is real. The God of the Universe is with us,  always faithful, never departing: “I am with you always.” That is  Good News! Sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Consider/Discuss 

  • The Holy Trinity, one God, is Mystery beyond Mystery. In biblical  parlance, God is the Father under whose wings we take refuge; God is the  Son who has redeemed us from the muck; God is the Spirit who surrounds  us and warms us and upholds us and empowers us. How have each of the  members of the Holy Trinity made an impact on your life? 
  • If we say yes to the power of the Trinity, what kind of power does God  want to give us? Are we looking for the “lord-it-over-others” power that  squashes others and pushes its way around? Does power mean this world’s  muscling that hurts those who are small? With others of good faith, we  shout no to that. How can we more fully give God a roaring Yes! to the  Trinitarian power that raises up the lowly, sets captives free, and loosens  the bonds of the oppressed?

Living and Praying with the Word 

Jesus, you said that “all power on heaven and earth” has been  given to you. I am small. I need your power. Help me to give a  mighty Yes! to the strength of the Holy Spirit. Well up within me to  love when I do not feel like loving. Strengthen me to give when I do  not feel like giving. Empower me to make a difference in this world,  a difference that matters to you. Holy Trinity, One God, flood me  with the very fullness of you.

Living the Word logo

Copyright © 2021, 2020, 2019, 2012, 2011, 2010 World Library Publications, a div. of GIA Publications, Inc. www.giamusic.com
All rights reserved. Used by permission.