Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – Trinity Sunday – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9
  • 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
  • John 3:16-18

The Pauline children awoke to some unusual decorations this Sunday morning.  Scattered all around the house were little signs—on the doors, stuck to the windows, hanging off the curtains, and one even in Saint, the dog’s, food dish!  But these weren’t just any signs, these signs were bright yellow and had something very familiar on them!

“Hey!” Vincent shouted, “I’ve seen these signs at events such as football games and the Olympics!  It’s the John 3:16 signs!  They show up everywhere!”

Dad chuckled.  “Right you are, Vincent!  It’s the every day, any way, evangelizing Scripture-say!  I remember the first time I saw it held up at an event on television.  It got me to run for my Bible and look it up.  What a neat little reminder it was of God’s love!”

Mom smiled.  “And I wonder which one of you will be able to tell me what our Gospel reading is for this morning?  I believe that your father and I have given you some pretty good clues!”

“Yeah, I think so!” Vincent quipped as he pulled one of the signs out from between two pancakes.  “I bet it’s John 3:16!”

After breakfast, the family settled into the living room to hear the Gospel of John.  It wasn’t hard for the family to understand why this passage is so memorable.  It was succinct and to the point.  God’s love abundantly shows through this passage on our behalf.

When Dad had finished reading the passage, he took out another book that was lying next to him.

“What is that book, Daddy?” 8-year-old Lucy asked him. “It looks kind of old!”

“Well, not quite that old, Lucy,” Dad grinned.  “I received this book from my grandpa for my birthday one year.  It has a passage about our Gospel reading in it that I always have remembered.  I thought that it would be a great opportunity this Sunday to share it with you!”

Dad opened the dark green, leather-bound book and turned to a familiar old page.   Then he continued.  “This book is called ‘Leaves of Gold,’ and this passage is called The Greatest.”

All the family sat in hushed silence as Dad cleared his throat and then began:

“‘The Greatest … based on John 3:16

God—the greatest lover
So loved—the greatest degree
The world—the greatest company
That He gave—the greatest act
His only begotten Son—the greatest gift
That whosoever—the greatest opportunity
Believeth—the greatest simplicity
In Him—the greatest attraction
Should not perish—the greatest promise
But—the greatest difference
Have—the greatest certainty
Eternal life—the greatest possession.'”

Dad quietly closed the book.  “You can see why this passage from John has become one of the most memorable and favorite Scripture passages.  God gave us all, so that we could have all.”

Mary Clare nodded as the family began getting ready to head out to Mass.  “I really think that this is one of my favorite Scripture readings, too.  What a gift God gave each one of us, and what a promise this Gospel holds.”

Vincent agreed, as he pulled another John 3:16 card out from the sleeve of his coat.  “Even though this reading is pretty short, it really does say it all!”

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“Leaves of Gold,” The Coslett Publishing Company, 1964.

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Cycle A, Trinity Sunday, SSSDownload

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