A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 28)
Trinity Sunday, Year C – June 6, 2004
“An Icon of Hospitality”
BIBLE READINGS
Prov 8:22-31 // Rom 5:1-5 // Jn 16:12-15
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
In Bangalore, India, I visited a Benedictine monastery that was famous not only for its dairy farm, but also for its hospitality. After spending a few quiet hours of prayer in the chapel, I was led by the Guest Master to the refectory to partake of milk curds and some bread. I was immediately captivated by what I saw on the wall: a gigantic reproduction of Andrea Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity depicting the visit of the Three Angels by the oak of Mamre (cf. Gen 18:1-15). Seated at a table, Abraham’s Three Divine Guests are a reminder of the sterling virtue of hospitality and the blessings that result from it. As I gazed at the icon, I was drawn into a deep experience of communion with the Blessed Trinity. In the warm reception of the monks in that peace-filled, welcoming community, I was also experiencing the hospitality of the triune God.
The mystery of the Trinity is enchanting, inviting, and deeply hospitable. We are led into it by the Wisdom of God (cf. Prov 8:22-32) and the Spirit of Truth (cf. Jn 16:12-15). Our experience of the triune God is true and palpable. The community of faith’s most intimate contact with the triune God is through Christ’s Paschal Mystery: “Through Christ we have gained access by faith to the grace in which we now stand” (Rom 5:2).
The Paschal Mystery is the basis of Trinitarian revelation. The early Christian community came to experience the Trinitarian character of God through the astounding paschal sacrifice and glorification accomplished by Christ. The saving events surrounding Jesus of Nazareth were the basis of the Church’s belief and confession that he was the Son of God. The members of the faith community had grasped not only Jesus Christ’s incomparable, singular rapport with God, but also his astounding relationship with the Spirit. The community of believers perceived the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the Father and the Son - as the one who makes Christ’s saving event present in the “here and now” of the universe and history. From the experience of the Paschal Mystery, the Church was led by the Spirit of Truth to a profound understanding that God in his most intimate nature is Trinitarian: as the loving Father, the source of our redemption; as the obedient Son who accomplished the Father’s saving plan by his death on the cross; and as the Spirit of love poured into our hearts who enables us to experience more deeply the unmitigated love of the Father and the Son.
In Christ’s Paschal Mystery, the Trinitarian revelation is complete. But our human perception is inadequate and our response to that revelation is incomplete. It is the Spirit of the Father and the Son – the Spirit of Truth – who enables us to be receptive to the mystery of the Trinitarian love. The Spirit makes the revelation meaningful to succeeding Christian generations and updates understanding of the once-and-for-all revelation of God in the Christ event. As the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit will speak what he hears from the only begotten Son of God, the ultimate and supreme Word of love of our Father in heaven.
The Church, the community of believers, is the hospitable community where the Trinitarian faith is nourished. According to the theologian, Hugo Rahner: “The Church is our native country where we are safe, and where our sanctification is accomplished through Christ until the glorious resurrection of our spiritualized being in the holy Church. The Church then is the mystic circle where the end joins the beginning. It leads us to our original source, the Father, who sent his Son to bring his children home – those children of his who have been called together in the Church. Thus in the Church we see the image of the Spirit who unites Father and Son in mutual love.”
On this solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity, let us contemplate the icon of the Trinity, which is the icon of hospitality. The following prayer of St. Catherine of Siena says it all: “By this light I shall come to know that you, eternal Trinity, are Table and Food and Waiter for us. You, eternal Father, are the Table that offers us food, the Lamb, your only-begotten Son. He is the most exquisite Food for us, both in his teaching, which nourishes us in your will, and in the sacraments that we receive in Holy Communion, which feeds and strengthens us while we are pilgrim travelers in this life. And the Holy Spirit is a Waiter for us, for he serves us this teaching by enlightening our mind’s eye with it and inspiring us to follow it.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Do we allow ourselves to be led into the beautiful and deeply hospitable mystery of the one God, who revealed himself in salvation history as the loving Creator Father, as the saving Son Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross, and as the Spirit of love outpoured into our hearts?
B. Do we contemplate the icon of the Most Holy Trinity? Do we thank the one and triune God for enfolding us with the life of love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
C. Immersed into the life of the Most Holy Trinity, are we also an icon of hospitality reflecting the ministerial action of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in salvation history: as the Table that offers the saving Lamb, as the Food that nourishes us, and as the Waiter that serves us the Bread of the Word, Jesus Christ?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Adapted from the prayer of St. Catherine of Siena)
Leader: By this light I shall come to know that you, eternal Trinity, are the Table and Food and Waiter for us.
Assembly: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Glory to the Most Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity!
Leader: You, eternal Father, are the table that offers us as food, the Lamb, your only begotten Son.
Assembly: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Glory to the Most Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity!
Leader: Your only begotten Son is the most exquisite Food for us, both in his teaching, which nourishes us in your will, and in the sacrament that we receive in Holy Communion, which feeds and strengthens us while we are pilgrim travelers in this life.
Assembly: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Glory to the Most Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity!
Leader: And the Holy Spirit is a Waiter for us, for he serves us this teaching by enlightening our mind’s eye with it and inspiring us to follow it.
Assembly: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Glory to the Most Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity!
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” (Jn 16:13a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: Spend some time before Andre Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity or any other icon depicting the Most Holy Trinity and make a personal prayer of thanksgiving to the one and triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
B. ACTION PLAN: Today practice an act of hospitality for a person in most need of welcome and care. Consciously offer this charitable act in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
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