Search
5/26/2024 - Trinity Sunday
-
KISSED BY GOD – AN INVITATION TO INTIMACYToday is Trinity Sunday. Our faith tells us there is but one God, and in the one God there are three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons are really distinct: the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Father, and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son. Each of these persons is really and truly God, and still there is but one God. We cannot understand it, we could not believe it if God had not told us.
The icon "The Hospitality of Abraham" or "The Trinity" by the renowned 15th century Russian iconographer Andrei Rublev (c.1360-1430) is a profound visual representation of the biblical story of Abraham welcoming three angelic visitors at the Oak of Mamre (Genesis 18). However, its deeper meaning transcends the literal narrative, depicting the mystery of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and their identical appearance and posture signify their shared divine nature and substance.
The icon invites the viewer into the intimate communion and hospitality shared within the Trinity. The circular movement, the chalice on the table, and the stylized tree behind them represent the eternal, self-sustaining life within the Godhead. The open space at the front symbolizes an invitation for humanity to participate in this divine life through Christ's incarnation.
The biblical narrative unfolds to us the revelation of God to humanity. The act of creation and the establishment of the covenant are the beginnings of the revelation of the Triune God. However, some time in human history, God shares in the human form and existence. This marks the beginning of the revelation of the second person of the Trinity: He was made visible in Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus would refer to God as His Father and would teach us to address the Creator-God as “Our Father” (Mt 6:9). Thus, the relationship between human beings and God becomes even more intimate. Again, Jesus would also introduce us more tangibly to the third person of the Trinity. He would leave the Spirit as His parting gift – the Spirit of the Risen Christ who proceeds from the relationship that exists between the Father and the Son. The Spirit would strengthen us, enlighten our minds and hearts, and draw us into union with God, the Trinity.
If we reflect on our personal lives, we will understand that we humans do not like being out of relationship with those around us or our God. Think of the worst moments of your life, when you were rejected by someone, when you were cut off from family and friends. Perhaps you felt betrayed by a friend, or you felt isolated and lonely. We do not even like to go to the movies or out to dinner by ourselves, do we? Why is solitary confinement such a horrible form of punishment? We human beings are in desperate need for union.
The question is why, why is this existential driving need for union? Why are the best moments when unions occur, and the worst, when they are absent or broken? The answer simply and profoundly is today’s feast. We human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, and God is communion, is relationship, and therefore so are we. Humans strive for union with God and with each other. We reach out for companionship. Every hug or embrace gives indirect testimony to the Trinity.
At a loss for words on how to explain the sacrament of Confirmation to a group of teens who were mentally challenged, a missionary bishop seeing how the parents kept stroking and caressing the children told them, “Today you will be kissed by God, and through this sign you will know He loves you and will be with you all the time, even when everyone around you is sleeping.” He anointed the head of the first child, and it responded, “Thank you God for the kiss.” This wonderful feast is an invitation to us to enter into intimacy with the God who lives in mutual intimacy between the three persons of the Trinity. Fr Tom Kunnel, C.O.