May 30 - Most Holy Trinity

(Dt 4:32-34, 39-40; Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20)

“Abba, Father!” That's how St. Paul in the second reading says we can address our God because we are led by the Spirit. “Abba” as a term for “Father” implies a level of intimacy that was not commonly applied to God in Old Testament times. Paul says we “cry” these words, which means we say them out loud and boldly with confidence. The source of this confidence is the Holy Spirit. This intimate relationship with God the Father makes us heirs with Christ. The inheritance we receive is God himself in the Beatific Vision. This promise is addressed to those who are led by the Spirit. Recall that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Therefore being “led by the Spirit” means something more than just living in holy bliss or having all the right answers. It sometimes means enduring difficult temptations in our lives. But the benefits of being led by the Spirit – the inheritance of the kingdom of God - far outweigh these temporary difficulties of life.

Jesus's commissioning of the disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew also has an intimate tone. We are reminded that there was still some doubt among the disciples. But Jesus consoles them rather than chastising them and reassures them of his power and divinity. Jesus speaks to his disciples as very close friends and gives them his final instructions. Those instructions are to go out into the world and make disciples everywhere. But as his disciples we won't be doing that on our own. Jesus says he is with us always.

• If Jesus says he is with us always, why does it sometimes feel like he is far away?
• What does it look like when someone is “led by the Spirit?”
• “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” is said when we begin a prayer and at other times of “beginning” and “ending.” But what does this phrase mean? List as many meanings as you can.