Feast of the Holy Trinity Discussion Questions

Conversation with the Weekend Readings

 Obedience to Love

Trinity Sunday

First Reading: EXODUS 34:4b-6,8-9

Second Reading: 1 COR 13:11-13

Gospel: JOHN 3:16-18

 Discussion Questions

1)    In the book of Exodus, we find the great story of liberation.  Moses’ call to lead his people out of slavery and into freedom to journey towards the promised land.  His encounter with the burning bush – the fire of the Holy Spirit. Last week we discussed the relationship between the Passover Meal and the Last Supper (the Jewish-Christian relationship).  This week the Scripture reading is pretty simple, God comes down to Moses in a cloud and reveals God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and faithful to creation.  How does this image of God in the Book of Exodus differ from the “Old Testament” image we have of a God who is angry, vengeful, jealous, and willing to abandon us?  How do you reconcile in your own faith practice, these two seemingly distinct images of God in the Hebrew Scriptures?  

2)    In the last line, Moses asks for God to look past the “sins of the community” and acknowledges that they are “stiff-necked” and sinful. In what ways today are we as a community of faith, a “stiff-necked people”? Hildegard of Bingen uses the image of the Holy Spirit as a “balm to heal wounds” – how can we adapt this metaphorical image of healing balm to the challenge of being stiff-necked?

3)    This short passage from 1^st Corinthians is pretty simple, “mend your ways… live in peace…”  In light of this past weekend’s events, how does this passage resonate with where you are at on your faith journey today as an individual and/or as an ordained minister leading a community?   

4)    In today’s Gospel we hear words, “God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, not to condemn but to offer eternal life.”  This passage referring to the incarnation has been interpreted in so many different ways across cultures, times, and faith traditions. Jesus came into this world, suffered horribly during the last few days of his life, was crucified, died, was buried, rose, and ascended out of love for us. When you hear this passage proclaimed, how do you personally understand God’s act of salvation through the person of Jesus? When you hear the phrase, “obedience to love”- what does that mean to you? There are no “right or wrong” answers in this discussion, we are simply exploring the questions in a safe and respectful space.

5)    This passage ends with the command to believe in Jesus (the second person of the Trinity) if one desires to be saved.   Historically, this command has led the Church to engage in horrific acts of violence and coercion forcing peaceful, loving communities to adopt particular forms of Christianity.  How do we reconcile these images of love, peace, mercy with a zealous desire to “baptize by the sword” forcing people to our personal understanding of Jesus?

6)    At the Second Vatican Council, the Church proclaimed all people – regardless of their professed creed, have been saved by Jesus and have equal opportunity to enjoy the fruits of heaven – the document states this includes even atheists if they are people of “good will” and are living in the Spirit of Christ. What are your feelings on this proclamation? Was it within the Church's right to claim all people are saved by Jesus even if they do not know or believe in Jesus? 

7)    This upcoming weekend is Trinity Sunday.  As Catholic Christians, believe in ONE GOD comprising of THREE PERSONS – Father, Son, Spirit (inclusive translation: Creator, Redeemer/Teacher, Sanctifier).  How do you wrap your mind around this divine mystery? How would you explain this phenomenon to others?  What are some images you have used in your preaching to help convey this to your congregants?