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JUne 3, 2007: Holy Trinity Sunday
June 02, 2007
 

 

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June 3, 2007

 

   

 

Holy Trinity Sunday
June 3, 2007


 

The Dogma of the Holy Trinity,
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§ 253, 254, 255

The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the "consubstantial Trinity". The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire: "The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. by nature one God." In the words of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), "Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature."

The divine persons are really distinct from one another. "God is one but not solitary." "Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: "He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son." They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: "It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds." The divine Unity is Triune.

The divine persons are relative to one another. Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another: "In the relational names of the persons the Father is related to the Son, the Son to the Father, and the Holy Spirit to both. While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance." Indeed "everything (in them) is one where there is no opposition of relationship." "Because of that unity the Father is wholly in the Son and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Son is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Son."

   

 

Samuel
1 Samuel 1-8

  Introduction
 
After Joshua and before Saul the first king of Israel, Israel is ruled by 12 judges. These are wise leaders or military heroes. The last of the judges is Samuel.

In Ramah, in the hill country of Ephraim, Elkanah lives with his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah is blessed with children while Hannah is childless. Elkanah regularly goes on a pilgrimage from his city to worship the LORD of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh. The temple in Shiloh is ministered by the priest Eli along with his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.

During the day of the offering Elkanah gives a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but a double portion to Hannah because he loves her.

The Birth of Samuel
During one such pilgrimage, as she did in the past, Peninnah reminds Hannah that the LORD has left her barren. Hannah becomes so upset she weeps and refuses to eat. When Elkanah sees this, he worries.

After a meal in Shiloh Hannah prays silently she promises the LORD that if He gives her a male child she will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives. She also promises that neither wine nor liquor will he drink and no razor will ever touch his head.

Eli the priest of Shiloh sees Hannah praying and weeping and Eli thinks that Hannah is drunk and reproaches her to sober up. Hannah explains that she was just pouring out her troubles and deep misery to the LORD. Eli sends her off with a blessing.

After she meets up with Elkanah they return home where they had relations and the LORD remembers Hannah. She conceives and gives birth to a son whom she calls Samuel.
When it comes time to offer sacrifice in Shiloh again, Hannah refuses to go saying that she needs to stay until Samuel is weaned so she can offer him to the LORD as a consecrated man. So Hannah stays to nurse her son.

Once Samuel is weaned, Hannah brings him, along with a three-year-old bull, about a bushel of flour, and a skin of wine to the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. Hannah presents Samuel to Eli as an offering to the LORD, and to live in the temple for as longs as he lives.

The boy Samuel, girt with a linen apron, grows in the presence of the LORD. He sees his mother and father when they come up to offer sacrifice at the temple at Shiloh. Samuel grows in stature and in worth in the eyes of the LORD and of men.

Hannah finds favor with the LORD. She bears three more sons and two daughters while Samuel is serving at the temple.
The Sins of Eli
Meanwhile the sons of Eli are wicked. They neither respect the LORD nor the priestly duties toward the people. They demand portions of the offering from the people and sometimes, they extract their demands by force. They treat the Israelites who come to make offerings badly and their offering with disdain. These wickedness go on without reproach from Eli.

One day a man of God comes to Eli and tells him that he and his sons had dishonored the LORD. The LORD tells Eli that no man in Eli’s family shall reach old age. He also says that his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day. The LORD also revokes His promise of eternal priesthood. He tells Eli that He will choose a faithful priest who shall do what He has in heart and mind and establish a lasting house for him.

 

The Call to Samuel
One night while Samuel sleeps in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God is, the LORD calls Samuel for the first time in his life.

Samuel runs to Eli and tells Eli, "Here I am," thinking Eli had called him. Eli tells he that he did not and tells him to go back to sleep.
Again the LORD calls Samuel, who rises and goes again to Eli. "Here I am," he says. "You called me." But again Eli answers that he did not call him. He tells Samuel to go back to sleep.

The LORD calls Samuel again. Samuel gets up and goes to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me."

Eli understands then that the LORD is calling the youth. So he says to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'"

When Samuel goes back to sleep in his place, the LORD comes and reveals his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answers, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

The LORD says to Samuel that that day is coming He will carry out everything He threatened against the family of Eli. The LORD tells Samuel that Eli’s sons blasphemed God, and yet Eli did not reprove them.

Samuel then sleeps until morning. He gets up early and opens the doors of the temple of the LORD. Eli calls him and demands that Samuel tells him everything that the LORD said.

So Samuel does. Afterwards, Eli answers that the LORD will do what He judges best.

Samuel grows up, and the LORD is with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel comes to know that Samuel is a prophet of the LORD.

The LORD continues to appear at Shiloh to Samuel and Samuel speaks to Israel.
 
The Ark of the LORD of Hosts Is Captured
At this time, the Philistines gather for an attack on Israel. Israel goes out to engage them in battle but Israel is defeated.

Thinking that if the ark of the LORD goes into battle among them and they will be saved from their enemies the Israelites brought with them the ark of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim.
 
Philistines battle Israel with such resolve and defeat Israel capturing the ark of God. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were with the ark are killed. Upon learning that the ark of God has been captured, Eli falls breaking his neck and he dies. He was ninety-eight years old.

The Philistines then brings the ark of God into the temple of Dagon in Ashdod, placing it beside Dagon. Next morning the people of Ashod find Dagon lying prone on the ground before the ark of the LORD. They pick Dagon up and put him back on his altar. But next morning the people again find Dagon lying prone on the ground before the ark of the LORD with his head and hands broken off.

The LORD punishes the people of Ashdod. He ravages and afflicts the city and its vicinity a great and deadly

plague of mice that swarm in their ships and overrun their fields. And everywhere they move and keep the ark the LORD throws that city into turmoil.

So they decide to send the ark back to Israel. They place the ark on a cart with the guilt offerings pull by two cows. The two cows go straight to the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and they stop there.

With the ark of the LORD back in Israel the whole Israelite population turns back to the LORD.
Samuel Judges Israel
Samuel tells the Israelites to throw away their foreign gods and to devote themselves to the LORD, and worship him alone. He tells them that that is the only way the He will deliver them from the power of the Philistines.

So the Israelites do as Samuel ordered. Samuel orders all Israel to gather at Mizpah, and there they fast and confess to the LORD.

It is at Mizpah that Samuel begins to judge the Israelites.

When the Philistines hear that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, they plan to attack Israel.

But Samuel prays to the LORD to save them from the Philistines and offers a sacrifice. During the sacrifice the Philistines attack Israel. That day, however, the LORD thunders loudly against the Philistines, and throws them into such confusion that Israel defeats them. Never again are they to enter the territory of Israel, for the LORD punishes them severely as long as Samuel lived.

The cities from Ekron to Gath which the Philistines had taken from Israel are restored to them. Israel also frees the territory of these cities from the dominion of the Philistines. Moreover there is peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel judges Israel as long as he lived. He travels yearly, passing through Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah and judging Israel at each of these sanctuaries.
Israel Demands a King
In his old age Samuel appoints his sons judges over Israel. His first-born is named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judge at Beer-sheba. When the sons of Samuel turn out to be corrupt, the elders of Israel come to Samuel demanding that Samuel appoint a king over them instead.

Although this demand displeases him, Samuel prays to the LORD who tells him to grant the people's every request. The LORD tells Samuel that the Israelites are rejecting the LORD as their king.

He also tells Samuel to warn them solemnly and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them.

Samuel delivers the message of the LORD in full to the elders. Samuel warns them that the king will take their sons and daughters and make them his soldiers, cooks and bakers. He also tells them that the king will take all that is theirs from them as his own. He also tells them they will all become slaves of the king.

Finally, Samuel warns them when this happens all of Israel will complain but on that day the LORD will not answer them.

But the people do not believe Samuel and insist for a king over Israel.
The LORD through Samuel grants Israel their first kings. What follows next is the anointment by Samuel of Saul as the first king of Israel, and  then of David.
For further reading on Samuel and the other heroes of the Old Testament:
I & II Samuel: A Commentary (Old Testament Library)
First sentence in the book:
""THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL contain that part of the history of Israel which describes the foundation of the State, running from the close of the period of the Judges to the establishment of the united kingdom."

 

 
The Sunday Readings

June 3, 2007: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

First Reading From the Book of Proverbs:
Prv 8:22-31
  Thus says the wisdom of God:
"The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; from of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth.

"When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water; before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet the earth and fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world.

"When the Lord established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep; when he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth; when he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command; then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race."

 
Responsorial From the Book of Psalms:
Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place —
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
R. O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth! 
 
Second Reading from the First Letter to the Romans
Rom 5:1-5
  Brothers and sisters:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

   
 
Reading From the Gospel of John:
Jn 16:12-15
  Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.

He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.

He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

 
 

References

Read more about the Liturgical Year
 

The Origins of the Liturgical Year (Pueblo Books) by Thomas J. Talley (Author) The Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Talley, Professor of Liturgics at the General Theological Seminary in New York, is one of the leading liturgists in the country. He gives us a fresh examination of the complex history of the Liturgical Year.
   
The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday, Cycle C. (Bestseller! the Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday) by John J. Pilch (Author)
Reader Review: The book by Pilch provides those who not only fill the pulpits across this country but also all interested in the cultural world in which Jesus lived with a lot of pertinent information that sheds light on a lot of areas that have been "muddled" in the past. Yes, I highly recommend this book. - James Mauldin
   

Learn more and read the Old Testament.

Preaching from the Old Testament by Elizabeth Achtemeier (Author) Reader Review: The author of these thirty-two short chapters begins and ends with the assumption that problems we experience with the Old Testament are our problem, not the Bible's. This subordinating of the Bible reader to the well-weathered book he holds in his hand opens doors, not to forced harmonisations of problematic passages, but to fresh reappraisal of difficult texts on their own terms. - David A. Baer
   
The Navarre Bible: Pentateuch (The Navarre Bible: Old Testament) This volume helps you make the first five books of the Old Testament a vital part of your spiritual reading and practical growth in the Christian life. It contains the full English and Latin texts of these books, along with extensive and faithfully Catholic commentaries. Like other volumes in the world-renowned Navarre Bible series, these commentaries draw on Church documents, the exegesis of Fathers and

Doctors of the Church, and the works of contemporary spiritual writers — particularly St. Josemaría Escrivá, who initiated the Navarre Bible project.

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Readers' Corner

5-Finger Prayer

Submitted thru Helen G.

Your thumb is nearest you.
So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

The next finger is the pointing finger.
Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

The next finger is the tallest finger.
It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

The fourth finger is our ring finger.
Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night You cannot pray too much for them.

And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.
As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
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  Comments and Suggestions are Most Welcome.

If you have any comments or contributions, please use the form in this link.

   
 

Some Hazards at the Beach

 
Dealing with Jellyfish
Jellyfish are among the most unpleasant seawater calamities. Fortunately, most victims make a complete recovery within days. If you or someone you know is stung by a jellyfish, get to shore and contact rescue workers immediately.

If none are present and you are required to address the wound yourself, pour vinegar on the wound to disable the nematocysts. If you do not have vinegar present, use salt water, but DO NOT use anything else. The slightest change in PH level could elicit the release of more venom. Once the nematocysts are disabled, it is time to
  remove them. Before doing so, make sure you have protective clothing, as to ensure you are not wounded while attempting to help. Then, pull the larger portions of the jellyfish out of the wound. Next, take a sharp edge and run it along the wound to remove the smaller, remaining particles. A razor, credit card, or knife will suffice. Then, get the victim to medical care as soon as possible. Doctors will most likely prescribe something to reduce skin irritation.
   
 
Dealing with Sharks
Sharks are the scariest of seawater horrors, but unjustifiably so. Your chances of being bitten by a shark are about as good as your chances of being struck by lightning. Beyond that, only 1% of shark bites are fatal. Lastly, by following a few simple precautions, swimmers and surfers can reduce their chances almost to zero. To understand how to prevent against a shark attack, you need to understand what causes one. In California, there are no sharks that act as natural predators to humans. If someone is bitten by a shark, it is an accident. So, what causes an accident on the shark's part? Swimming in murky waters,
  swimming near sunset or sunrise (when sharks feed), swimming while bleeding, or swimming alone. Sharks are much more likely to confuse one human for a fish than many humans as fish. Avoid those situations, and you should be safe. Sorry, we can't help you with the lightning.
   
 
Understanding Rip Currents
Rip currents are actually a much more real concern than sharks and jellyfish combined. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of 15, and a rip current is a scary situation in which to find yourself. However, most people who drown in a rip current do so because they fight against
it, instead of taking the ride. See, rip currents are caused by a large influx of water (in the form of a large set of waves or increased tide) coming to the shore. Naturally, the water has to return to the ocean. Since water seeks the lowest point, sometimes a rushing underwater torrent of water will form in a low point on the sea floor, like an underwater river. If you get caught in this, it may feel as though you are being tugged underneath, but, in reality, you are being towed out to sea. The good news is
  that the current has to come to an end, eventually.

Your best bet is either to swim parallel to the beach (like swimming across a river) until you have cleared the current or to simply take the ride and let the next set of waves take you back to shore. Whatever you do, don't fight against it. You can't swim against a rip current anymore than you can swim up Niagara Falls.
   
 
Dealing with Stingray
A stingray wound is serious and should receive medical attention. If a stingray barbs you, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Stingrays have venom on their barb that can cause a “drastic decrease in blood pressure, increased pulse, dizziness and possible shock.”
   
The barb may break off in the wound and it must be removed by a doctor. The wound will need to be cleaned to avoid infection. The victim may also need a tetanus shot.

If a stingray barbs you, get out of the water and onto the beach and notify emergency services immediately. Apply pressure to control the bleeding.

If the wound is not serious but you are in a lot of pain, soak wound in water as hot as you can stand for half an hour to an hour. Alternatively, wrap hot towels around the wound. Heat helps break down the venom and relieve the pain.

See a doctor immediately.

 

Sunscreen or Sunblock?

  Before you head out under the sun make sure you are protected.
   
 

How Many New cases of Skin Cancer will be Diagnosed this Year?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than one million new cases of
skin cancer will be diagnosed this year--almost one every hour. The majority of these cases are the result of sun exposure, and the majority of them could be prevented with some cursory understanding of modern sun protection technology.

What are Sunblocks and Sunscreens?
The first line of defense against sun damage is sunblock or sunscreen. Actually, the two words refer to very different chemical compounds.

The first, sunblock, is usually composed of zinc oxide. Zinc oxide basically acts as a series of tiny mirrors that coat your skin and reflect sunlight away. The protection is almost complete against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Sunscreen typically employs titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, which takes an entirely different approach. Titanium dioxide does not block the sun's rays; instead, it interacts with them to convert them into heat energy, which is then dissipated harmlessly throughout the protective coat.

Most dermatologists agree that sunblock is more effective for one key reason: titanium dioxide has a tendency to absorb into the skin, leaving the skin vulnerable to sun damage. Worse yet, some scientists have recently argued that the absorbed titanium dioxide, combined with sun exposure actually increases the risk of premature aging and skin cancer.

Unfortunately, "sunblock" and "suncreen" are not official terms, and, sometimes, they are used interchangeably by manufacturers. If you want to be sure you're safe, look for zinc oxide on the label.

What is SPF?
SPF is perhaps one of the most misunderstood terms in the consumer community.

Most people believe that the SPF refers to the effectiveness of the sun protection. Actually, SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a multiplier of the time you can spend in the sun
without developing the harmful aftereffects.

For instance, if you can usually spend 10 minutes in the sun before you begin to burn, an SPF 15 would allow you to stay out in the sun for 150 minutes, or 2-1/2 hours, before skin damage occurs. Now, there are two important points that must be understood when utilizing sun protection.

First, the clock does not reset if you reapply the sunblock. So, you can't simply put more sunblock on after 2-1/2 hours to extend your time to 5 hours. There is a law of diminishing returns here. You will more likely gain only another 15 minutes of safety.

The second point is that even sunblock absorbs completely into the skin within 3-4 hours (more quickly if water or sweating is involved). This is why sun-protection manufacturers are now required to cap their products at SPF 30+, no matter how much protection the products could potentially offer.

So, even if your SPF increases your estimated safe time to 4 or 5 hours, get out of the sun or wear protective clothing after 3. Your skin will thank you later.

   
 
   
 

Recipes

   
 
Baked Eggs with Creamy Leeks
Ingredients
1 tbsp butter, plus extra for greasing
8 oz small leeks, thinly sliced
5—6 tbsp whipping cream
4 small—medium eggs

For a slightly different result, beat the eggs with the remaining whipping cream and season. Spoon over the leeks into the ramekins, then bake in the roasting pan with boiling water.

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version

   

Chicken Marinated in Soy Sauce

Ingredients
4 skinless, chicken breast fillets
1 large orange
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
14 oz medium asparagus spears

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Butter Cookies

MAKES TWENTY-EIGHT TO THIRTY

2 1/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
1 cup unsalted (sweet) butter
1 cup icing (confectioners’) sugar, plus extra for dusting
2 tsp vanilla essence (extract)

 

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How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit? Unique Up On It.
   
How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit? Tame Way.
   
How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest ? They Take The Psycho Path
   
How Do You Get Holy Water? You Boil The Hell Out Of It
   
What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall? Dam! (Sorry folks)
   
What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long? Polaroid's
   
What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work? A Stick
   
What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours? Nacho Cheese
   
What Do You Call Santa's Helpers? Subordinate Clauses
   
What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand? Quattro Sinko