1st Reading Proverbs 8:22-31
Resp. Psalm Ps. 8 (R. 2a)
2nd Reading Romans 5:1-5
Gospel John 16:12-15
BE ONE
Dear Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We celebrate the mystery of three divine persons in one God. It is then important to underline the unity in God. God is One and the number one represents Him as such.
The First Reading from Proverbs 8:22-31 draws our focus to an element which catches attention — WISDOM. The first reading is located within the wider context of a poem on WISDOM in chapters 8 and 9 of the Book of Proverbs. We are reading from the end of Chapter 8 which gives us an imaginative, picturesque view of the origin, value and purpose of WISDOM from a poetic perspective.
A particular feature we must take into consideration is that WISDOM is personified, made like a person who speaks and gives credentials about herself. Indeed, WISDOM is personified as a Woman (Prov. 8:2). 'She' and 'Her' are used for Wisdom. We note that a WOMAN is speaking.
The thought of a WOMAN or a LADY takes us back to Genesis where we first hear about the creation of a WOMAN for an important purpose, to be a HELPER (Gen. 2:18). This is drawn to help us understand the sense of unity and companionship. A Helper ('ÊZER) does not imply that the helper is either stronger or weaker than the one helped. The basic point here is that the personification of WISDOM as a WOMAN draws our attention to the role of WOMEN at creation to be HELPERS, further stating that the sense of Unity is highlighted in the first Reading. Infact, WISDOM says of herself to be an artisan ('AMOWN) (Prov. 8:30). Like an artisan, she is like one who helps or collaborates with the Creator.
The whole Poem about the origin of WISDOM uses much indicators to refer us to Genesis and the account of creation (Gen. 1). There are such indicators as "the beginning" (v. 22), the mention of Deeps, Springs of Water, Mountains, The Earth, The Heavens, and The Skies.
Let us underline two things in addition to Wisdom as a helper when she says she is an artisan (Prov. 8: 30)
The first is that WISDOM says the Lord possessed her in the BEGINNING. The Beginning (RE'SHIYTH) can be noted to be the moment before the first day. This is the moment of nothingness, before creation. It could also be described as a moment which marked a state between time and eternity, and the start of the existence of created things. It is at this moment that the Creator uses or employs the assistance or help of Wisdom. God created with the use of Wisdom. Infact, Wisdom is "the forerunner of his deeds of long ago" (Prov. 8: 22; Wisdom 9:9; Sirach 24:9).
The second thing we have to bring to focus is the importance of knowing the origin of Wisdom. There is a value attached to the possession of Wisdom. This is the reason why Wisdom must make her origin known. Her origin is divine. She precedes creation. The possession of Wisdom cannot be compared to creation. She is more important than all things.
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, let us understand the unity highlighted by WISDOM, Her role in the work of Creation, and that knowledge of origin should enable us to seek what is Divine. As well, may we be assisted by the Holy Spirit to contemplate the Divine through his work of creation. The Lord's Majesty can be seen in his work (Ps. 8)
Pax et Bonum
Thank you for nourishing us always with the word of God
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DeleteThank you. Holy trinity one God.
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