What condemnation fails to achieve, love can

by Shiu Lan 2017-06-08

Shiu Lan 2017-06-11

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

EX 34:4B-6, 8-9
Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."

2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

John 3:16-18
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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

On this Most Holy Trinity Sunday, we hear from the Gospel reading that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is love, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:17). What strikes me the most in this scripture verse is the word “condemn”. The world is quite sinful, yet God does not condemn us, forsake us; He still wants to save us. How great is God’s love for the world and for each one of us!

When I look at myself introspectively, I am often too ready to condemn others. Even if not openly, I would condemn in my heart those who seem to be responsible for the miseries and sufferings in the family, workplace and society. When I condemn my neighbours, do I really know the true cause of the seemingly negative action, the irresponsible behavior, the selfishness or the stubbornness? Perhaps I do not. How would putting myself in that person’s shoes change my attitude? Then the condemnation is of no value other than revealing my personal biases and close-mindedness that prevent me from recognizing the truth hidden beneath another’s action or behavior, which may be a cry for love in disguise. Such attitude does not do anyone any good.

What condemnation fails to achieve, love can. In the second reading, St. Paul advises the Corinthians to “agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss” (2 Cor 13:11-12). This timeless advice is definitely valid to us today.

If God does not condemn us, we should do likewise and not condemn others. Let us strive to live every moment of our lives in love; a love for our neighbors and for one another that Jesus teaches us in the Gospels. This may be easier said than done. On this Most Holy Trinity Sunday, let us pray for guidance and empowerment from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that beginning from ourselves, we are building a community of love around us so that “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit” will be with us (2 Cor 13:13).

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Shiu Lan

Shiu Lan is your Catholic neighbour with a simple faith and likes praying the Rosary. With a B.Sc from the University of Hong Kong, she worked in Information Technology and Project Management before working with joy at home.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

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