The wonder of the Trinity is that it highlights the absolute mystery of our God and Father. Theologians throughout time have tried to explain how we can believe in one God who has three entities or distinct natures.
This icon, Trinity by Rublev, I think makes thinking about the Trinity in a different way because rather than thinking about the material or substance about who is first, who is greater, rather we have the threenatures of God reflected as equal and in absolute relationship sharing a meal. Each is looking at the other. There is a harmony about the relationship between each one. There is a love that is connecting them together. And there is a space that is opened up for another to join that table of nourishment. That space is for us to join. Richard Rohr has described this image as the ‘Divine Dance’ – a dance where God whose essence is made up of relationship between each distinct nature. Where each one offers and gives one to another. It is the Spirit who is reaching out to us. And it is the Spirit that Jesus left for us here on earth, so that we could have the guide to the way, the truth and life.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine.”
John 16:13-15
The Spirit is the one who unites heaven and earth. God and humanity, within each person and within each community of Jesus Christ. The spirit is the one who stirs us. Who shakes us up, if we are prepared to be shaken so that we can risk things and join the table with God.
At Pentecost, the early disciples were shaken and transformed by the power of the Spirit. I pray that as the year unfolds, that we too will find ourselves continually shaken and stirred by the love of relationships with Him and with one another that draws us closer to understanding the great mystery of our God.
Rev Natasha Thomas
