Context: The word “trinity” is not used in the bible but there are places where we can discern the existence of three “persons” in the life of God. Especially in the book of John we find lovely images of the unity within the trinity: One in three and three in One. Today’s reading is one of those passages … We read about communication between the Father and the Spirit and Jesus in an intimate and relational way of being.
The doctrine (or the teaching) of the Trinity is not an easy one to understand because it is mystery. This means it is beyond our comprehension … How can God be Three in One and One in Three? Do we worship one God or three Gods? Believing the Trinity means we believe that God is one in essence (Greek ousia), but distinct in person (Greek hypostasis). Yet “person” does not mean person as we think of a human person. The Greek word hypostasis simply means “individual reality.”
Going Deeper: Take a moment to read John 17:20-26 which is our reading from 2 weeks ago on perfect unity. Jesus the Redeemer and God the Creator are One … and we can infer that Spirit the Sustainer is One with them both. There is an interpenetration and interrelatedness that is beyond us. And we are not alone. Jesus begins this passage by saying “I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now.” How can we know this God veiled in such mystery? Jesus promises again and again that he will send the Spirit who will teach us all things about God.
We are like the disciples, fully human and sinners alike, every one of us. And we cannot bear all we need to know all at once. The disciples were not ready and we are not ready. When we are ready, the Spirit leads us and teaches us what we can bear when we can bear it. O how I long to know more and more and more … yet I wait patiently until I am ready to hear and trust and obey ... for it is obedience with which we can judge our maturity. Jesus said “Love others as I have loved you.” When Jesus talks about love he is talking about agape love … the love that commands us to commit ourselves to reach out to others and to love them as we are loved. How full of love are you for others?
Jesus calls the Spirit many names: Advocate, Counselor, and Helper. In this passage, Jesus says the Spirit of Truth will come. What is truth? In this context it means “reality.” The reality of the Trinity is not one that we will ever understand with our rational minds or our emotional hearts. The Trinity and the love inherent within the relationship between God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer can only be understood with the soul … and by this I mean the “center of one’s being.” So … how is it with your soul?
Pondering: Leo Tolstoy wrote a story in 1886 called Three Hermits which undoubtedly was told and re-told, passed on and on, changed here and there ... remember the game of "gossip? Anthony de Mello tells a shorter version of this story with some differing details in The Song of the Bird.
A bishop's ship had anchored at a remote island. Since he only had one day there, the bishop was determined to use the time profitably. He strolled along the seashore and came across three fishermen, mending their nets. In broken English, they explained to him that their village had been converted to Christianity by missionaries centuries before. “We Christians!” they proudly proclaimed. The bishop was impressed. But, in talking some more, he discovered that they had never even heard of the Lord’s Prayer. The bishop was shocked. “What, then, do you SAY when you pray?”
“We lift eyes to heaven and say, ‘We are three, you are three, have mercy on us.”
The bishop was appalled. This would never do. In fact, it sounded almost…heretical. So the bishop spent the whole day teaching them the Lord’s Prayer. And, even though the fishermen were slow learners, they were finally able to struggle through it before the bishop sailed away the next day.
Months later, the bishop’s ship happened to pass by that same island. The bishop paced the deck, recalling with pleasure the three men who were now able to pray, thanks to his patient efforts. But while he was lost in his thoughts, he happened to look up, noticing a spot of light to the east. The light kept approaching the ship and, as the bishop gazed in wonder, he saw three figures walking on the water. The captain, too, was amazed and he stopped the boat so everyone could see. When they got within speaking distance, the bishop recognized the three fishermen.
“Bishop!” they exclaimed. “We see your boat go by the island, so we come to see you.” “What do you want?” asked the awestruck bishop. “Bishop,” they said. “We are very sorry. We forget lovely prayer. We say, ‘Our Father, in heaven, holy be your name….’ Then we forget. Please tell us prayer again.”
With a quiet voice, the bishop answered, “Go back to your homes, my friends. And each time you pray, say,
‘We are three, you are three, have mercy on us.”
As you ponder this story ...
how does it illuminate your understanding of the Trinity?
do you think in terms of "Three in One" or "One in Three?
what is your reasoning? does it make a difference?
why do you think the bishop thought the prayer was heretical?
why do you think the bishop spoke quietly?
what does this story say to you about prayer?
does this story invite you to deeper prayer?
Prayer: Praying with the Icon of the Holy Trinity … The icon of the Trinity was painted around 1410 by Andrei Rublev. It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre but is often interpreted as an icon of the Trinity. The image is full of symbolism - designed to take the viewer into the Mystery of the Trinity. 
- Prepare your icon by arranging you screen so that you can see it well.
- You might desire to click on the icon to see a larger version of it
- An icon should be illuminated when you pray with it ... I use one small candle to light up the face of the icon. In this photo I illuminate it for you
- Sit comfortably in the silence before the icon so that you are able to gaze into it.
- Over time the icon begins to examine you as you examine it ...
- As you come to "know" the icon you will find companionship with the Trinity
O God, I praise you:
Mighty Creator, Christ our Redeemer, Spirit our Sustainer.
You reveal yourself in the depths of our being,
drawing us to share in your life and your love.
One God, three Persons,
be near to all people formed in your image,
close to the world your love brings to life.
We ask you this, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
one God, true and living, forever and ever. Amen.
Greetings Cindy
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of the Trinity,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
Thanks for writing, Adam. I appreciate the resource you cited and the gentle way you have encouraged me to continue to struggle with my own beliefs regarding the Trinity.
ReplyDeletePeace, Cindy