First Reading
Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9
1. God has shown himself to us through the ages, through Jesus. Besides his name, what did God reveal about himself to Moses on Mount Sinai? What was Moses’ response to this revelation? How do you respond when God reveals things to you?
2. Moses said to God, “If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff- necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.”
The reading says that God forgives us when we are stiff-necked (arrogant and stubborn). Do you forgive others when they have that malady? What could happen to family squabbles, disputes at work, wars between countries if forgiveness is introduced into the discussion/argument? How do we ask forgiveness of the planet for the global warming we have created?
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
1. What do you know about the Trinity from the last lines of this reading: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” God’s nature is love, and he has invited us to come along in his company. What are the implications for our communities?
2. We can all agree with and/or encourage each other in order to live in peace. How important is this to you? Do you encourage others? Is Paul talking about agreeing on everything or on basic truths?
Gospel
John 3:16-18
1. What action of the Father tells you that he “ … so loved the world”? What did the Son do? What is your response to God’s immense love for the world and for you personally?
2. According to Pope Francis, how did God reveal himself as the Trinity? Could we be listening for “good ideas and inspirations” that relate to our own spiritual needs and to our planet’s virus and creation crises?
Let us recognize that God is not something vague. Our God is not a God “spray,” he is tangible; he is not abstract but has a name: “God is love.” His is not a sentimental, emotional kind of love but the love of the Father who is the origin of all life, the love of the Son who dies on the cross and is raised, the love of the Spirit who renews human beings and the world. … The Most Holy Trinity is not the product of human reasoning but the face with which God actually revealed himself, … walking with humanity, … with his people in the history of Israel, and Jesus who has always walked with us and promised us the Holy Spirit who is fire, who teaches us everything we do not know, and guides us from within, gives us good ideas and good inspirations
