This week's readings Week of May 26 - June 1 Sunday, May 26, 2002 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Reading I: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9 Reading II: 2 Cor 13:11-13 Gospel: Jn 3:16-18 Monday, May 27, 2002 Reading I: 1 Pt 1:3-9 Gospel: Mk 10:17-27 Tuesday, May 28, 2002 Reading I: 1 Pt 1:10-16 Gospel: Mk 10:28-31 Wednesday, May 29, 2002 Reading I: 1 Pt 1:18-25 Gospel: Mk 10:32-45 Thursday, May 30, 2002 Reading I: 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12 Gospel: Mk 10:46-52 Friday, May 31, 2002 Reading I: Zep 3:14-18a Gospel: Lk 1:39-56 Saturday, June 1, 2002 Reading I: Jude 17, 20b-25 Gospel: Mk 11:27-33 Pope's Prayer Intentions May General Intention That faithful Christians may show others the Gospel of hope: That Christians may so live the totality of their faith that they are credible witnesses to the hope of the Gospel. May Mission Intention That Mary ever Virgin Mary may help women in families and the world: That Mary, the most holy Virgin and Mother, may help all people and cultures safeguard and promote the social and family vocation of women.

Grace, love, fellowship:
Rejoice brothers and sisters!

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

After the season of Lent with its repentance and our participation in the passion and death of the Lord Jesus; after the Easter season with its celebration of the resurrection of Christ and his return to the right hand of the Father; after the feast of Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the new Church: we celebrate our restored relationship with the Triune God.

"Since the descent of the Spirit, the Church has grown and spread as Jesus planned, to the Father's glory."

At the beginning of creation the Father breathed the gift of life into human beings, and when they sinned he set into motion his plan to bring the human family back into his grace and friendship.

In the fullness of time God revealed his plan of salvation to his chosen people, sending his only begotten Son to die in our place for the forgiveness of our sins.

Together the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church, filling the apostles with strength, power, and courage, renewing their faith and enabling them to carry out the mission given to them by Jesus: to baptize all the nations and to teach them all that Jesus commanded.

Readings for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (May 26) Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18

Along the way many teachers, prophets, and believers have taken part in the history of salvation: Noah and Abraham, Joseph and Moses, Ruth and Rachel, David and others, all the way to John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ. Since the descent of the Spirit, the Church has grown and spread as Jesus planned, to the Father's glory.

Restoring God's friendship to the people he created to be his own, Jesus has taken us into his confidence, revealing the innermost secret of God's life: the Trinity. While it is a mystery that we cannot fully comprehend, we believe because God is worthy of our trust. God who has given us his Word and has taught us the truth cannot lie.

The familiar words of Saint Paul to the believers at Corinth are ones we use constantly in our worship: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." That grace, love, and fellowship are the source of our rejoicing as Christian brothers and sisters.

What we have learned about God through the Scriptures and the witness of salvation history is given in many places. Here are a few:

"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."

"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."

"Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you."

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

And now we are God's friends again, sharers of the divine life through our baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." We need not fear sin and death, for Christ has conquered them. If we love him, if we believe in him, if we follow and obey him, the kingdom of his Father shall be our home.

As Saint Paul told us, "rejoice, brothers and sisters," in the grace, love, and fellowship we have from God!

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.