Grace, love, and fellowship: these are key blessings of our Trinitarian God. In today’s second reading, St. Paul ends his epistle by extending God’s trifold blessings to the Church in Corinth: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Corinthians 13:13).
The grace of Christ is God’s life living inside of us. It’s God’s supreme gift to us: “Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life” (CCC 1996).
“[God] gave himself to us through his Spirit. By the participation of the Spirit, we become communicants in the divine nature. . . . For this reason, those in whom the Spirit dwells are divinized.” – St. Athanasius
Grace allows us to enter into the mystery of God Himself: “Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an ‘adopted son’ he can henceforth call God ‘Father,’ in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church” (CCC 1997).
The love of God is completely self-sacrificing, never-ending, constant, and perfect. The proof of the love of God is perfectly summed up in today’s Gospel reading: “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” (John 3:16). God loved us so much that He held back nothing. He gave us His most precious Son in order to extend His grace—His eternal life!—to us.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is manifested in peaceful unity. The Holy Spirit draws us together in love. He empowers us to fulfill the greatest commandment to love God and love others (Mark 12:29-31). This is true fellowship: Christian love, being united in heart and mind with one another (cf Philippians 2:1-2).
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.” Philippians 2:1-2
This week, consider taking some time in quiet prayer ane meditate on the Holy Trinity. Try to imagine the grace of Christ living inside you, poured in by the power of the Holy Spirit, drawing you ever closer to the love of God, compelling you to act in love for God and others.
Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity – June 7, 2020
- Exodus 34:4-9
- Deuteronomy 3:52-56
- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
- John 3:16-18