The Gospel as it appears in the Lectionary – the book from which the priest will read the Gospel – http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060312.cfm. Go to this site to read the passage as read in the Sunday’s liturgy.
The Commissioning of the Disciples – Mt.: 28:16 – 20. http://www.usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Matthew&ch=28&v=48028016. I have copied the same passage as it appears in the bible immediately below.
16 The eleven- disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19o, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
As we turn our attention to this reading chosen by the Church to celebrate the Trinity, there is one small difference in the two versions of the same passages. That one difference is a clue to coming to some understanding of what we believe but can always understand more, that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So what is that small difference in the two nearly identical account? If you find it, what could it mean? A clue to its meaning is time, history.
In order to promote discussion, I am going to wait until someone makes an attempt at these two questions. If you don’t find it, you can respond by telling us that. Once someone does locate it, go back and see if their observation is correct and then attempt to let us know what you think that very small difference could mean.
We hope this week to appreciate a bit more than we do right now, the wonder, the beauty, the intimacy of God for us and for all humanity, now and for all times.