John 14:23-29

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

John 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Whoever loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;

yet the word you hear is not mine

but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you everything

and remind you of all that I told you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you,

‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me,

you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;

for the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I am truly blessed to know you. You are my Father. All I have, every good thing, I have received from you. Guide me as I walk the path of life toward you. Move me with your Spirit to do what is right and just and holy.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Trinity in the Gospel of John: Of the four Gospels, the one that speaks the most about God as a Trinity of divine Persons is the Gospel of John. A key part of the Last Supper Discourse in John’s Gospel concerns Jesus’ relationship as Son to the Father and how he and the Father will send the Holy Spirit after his departure from this world. Throughout the Gospel of John, there are many verses that reveal the mystery of the Trinity. God the Father “so loved the world that he gave his only Son … For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17). “The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him” (John 3:35). “[Jesus] called God his own father, making himself equal to God” (John 5:18). “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). “If you know me, then you will also know my Father” (John 14:7). “The Father who dwells in me is doing his works” (John 14:10). “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). “The Advocate, the holy Spirit, that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything” (John 14:26). “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me” (John 15:26). After the Resurrection, Jesus breathes on the disciples and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

2. The Trinity in the Book of Revelation: In the Second Reading, John has a vision of the holy city of the New Jerusalem. The gates of the New Jerusalem – with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel – symbolize how the whole world enters into the Church of the New Covenant through the promises made to Israel. The Church of the New Covenant is also built on Apostolic foundations. There is no temple in the holy city because its temple is the Lord God and the Lamb. John will see a vision of two thrones – the throne of the Lord God the Almighty and the throne of the Lamb. Where, then, is the throne of the Spirit? John sees not a throne, but the Spirit flowing from the two thrones: “Then, he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). Just as the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son, so also, in time, the Spirit is poured out into our hearts to heal us, sanctify us, and leads us, in time of tribulation, to the heavenly Jerusalem.

3. The Trinity at the Council of Jerusalem: In the First Reading, we hear a brief account of the decisions made by the Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 49 concerning how to welcome the Gentiles into the Church founded by Jesus. In the debate, they focused on how the Holy Spirit was given to Gentiles who came to believe in Jesus. Peter decided that the yoke of the Law of Moses should not be imposed on the Gentiles and that we are saved not by the works of the Law but through the grace of the Lord Jesus. James, who acted at the time as the bishop of Jerusalem, agreed with Peter and judged that the Gentiles who turn to God should not be troubled with the ceremonial rites of the Law. In the letter the council sent to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, the apostles and elders of the Church conveyed the “decision of the Holy Spirit” not to burden them beyond a couple of points regarding the Christian life and table fellowship. In brief, we see that the works of all three Persons of the Trinity are mentioned at the Council of Jerusalem: God the Father knows the heart of his people, the Lord Jesus gives his to his people, and the Spirit guides the decisions of the people of God, gathered in a council.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing the mystery of the Trinity to me. The mystery far surpasses my understanding and reason, and yet you, through the virtue of faith and the gift of wisdom, can bring me more deeply into the mystery. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief! Grant me your wisdom!

Living the Word of God: In my prayer, do I make it a habit to pray to each Person of the Holy Trinity? How do I relate in prayer to the Father, the Principle of all things? How do I relate to God the Son, my brother? How do I relate in prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier?