Sunday Reading 2nd Pentecost Holy Trinity

Romans 11:25-36
I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not become wise (in) your own estimation: a hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the full number of the Gentiles comes in, and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion, he will turn away godlessness from Jacob; and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” In respect to the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarchs. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

PRAYER –
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in substance, we ask You to strengthen, protect and sanctify our souls and bodies, for we are weak. May we grow in purity all the days of our lives. O Lord our God, to you be glory and thanks forever.Opening Prayer for Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity from the Book of Offering

Meditation on the Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity:

Jesus Christ reveals to us the fullness of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the eternal Logos (Word) of the Father, Jesus the Son of God, in assuming our nature, is for us the face of God. Through his Incarnation, Ministry of Proclaming the Kingdom of God, Suffering and Death on the Cross, and his holy Resurrection – Jesus shows us that God is Love. So that this Love, which is God may abide in us forever, the Father gives us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Love, the Spirit of Life in its fullness.
In Eastern Christianity this fullness of life given to us by the Spirit, that shapes us to be more like Christ each day is called “theosis”, “metanoia”, “deification”, meaning to be “god-like” or “divinization”. In the Syriac Tradition this idea of “theosis” can be seen in the early Syriac Fathers for example, in the Demontrations of Aphrahat, called the “Persian Sage”, in Demonstration VI he reminds us that in taking on our nature, the Son of God bestows upon us his nature. Aphrahat writes:

All this humility did our Savior show us in Himself. Let us then also humble
ourselves, my beloved. When our Lord went outside of His nature, He walked
in our nature. Let us abide in our nature, that in the day of judegment He may cause us to partake of His nature.
It is central to our faith the “God became man, so that man could become god”, as so eloquently expressed by St. Athanasius in his On the Incarnation. Our Maronite Divine Liturgy reminds us unceasingly that is by the Holy Trinity we are saved, that it is the Holy Trinity who is active and present in the Holy Mysteries, that it is the Holy Trinity who invites us to share in his Kingdom. The Divine Liturgy proclaims:

Show your kindness, O Lord,
to your children who were signed by your name, who ate your body and drank your blood,
and who went to sleep hoping in you.
Make them worthy to stand with honor at your right
hand,
and to hear the happy voice that proclaims:
“Come, O blessed of my Father.
Enter and inherit the heavenly kingdom, prepared for you before the foundation of the world.”
Make us, also, worthy to hear that same voice and to inherit the same blessings
which you promised to your saints.
We shall glorify you, O Christ,
your Father, and your living Holy Spirit,
who is good, worshiped, life-giving, and equal to you, now and for ever.
All praise to the Holy Trinity, by which we are saved!!!

The Prayer of the Faithful, vol. III:
Ramsho – Proemion (page 176)

Praise, glory and honor to the one God in three Persons:
the Father, Source of life;
the Son, begotten of the Father before all the ages;
and the Spirit of love between the Father and the Son;
one in being, one in power, one in will,
one God who is ever blessed and true.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this evening,
and all the days of our lives,
now and forever.
Amen.