Letting the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity impact our relationships
It is almost becoming the order of the day that, at the beginning of their homilies, preachers engage their congregations in a short dialogue: “The Lord is good – all the time. And all the time- the Lord is good and that is his nature – Wow!” This may be intended to capture the attention of the listeners, but a lot is said here. The only danger would be to end with “wow” as an expression of admiration. If God is good, then those who worship Him should also be good. Some research in religious sciences points to the fact that people try to imitate the kind of “god” they worship.
If the main characteristic of God is that of a warrior, people who worship such a god will be inclined to war, since they believe in the divine ordinance to see war everywhere; if it is a god of peace, they will look for all means to have peace. What about the Christian God and the Christians? The nature of the God that Christians worship is Trinitarian. It should be our attempt to explain this nature which God Himself has revealed, but to look for ways of imitating God in our lives, for we are part of this mystery.
God is one in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God’s nature is relational. In God, there is an eternal flow of mutuality. The mystery of the Trinity shows us that God’s power is not to be seen in terms of domination, threat or coercion. In the Trinitarian nature of God, we see power that is shared, handed over to the Other. One reality is shared among three distinct persons without exterminating each other, for they are in perfect communion. This is the nature of God which we shouldn’t only marvel at but which we ought to imitate in our human relationships.
In God, power is shared and shareable. Jesus affirms this when He says: “Everything that the Father has is mine.” (Jn 16: 15) It is strange to note that many Christian nations who ought to have understood the nature of God they worship, find it hard to let the Trinitarian notion of power have a slight influence on societal organization, politics and authority. The Trinity shouldn’t remain a theological notion about God but a challenge with regard to the use of power; thus, no power over but power with! Whoever has ears to hear, let him/her hear! The imitation of the Trinity will surely change all Christian relationships in marriage, in churches, in culture and all aspects of life.
The Trinity shouldn’t remain a theological notion about God but a challenge with regard to the use of power; thus, no power over but power with!
The Russian iconographer Andrei Rublev (ca. 1400-1410) attempted an artistic presentation of the Trinity in which three persons share a meal. It is here that giving and receiving is at their best. This seems to be the relational reality that sustains the whole of creation, because it emanates from the very nature of the Creator. There is no hierarchy (from top to bottom) but rather a circular flow of life and love. At the beginning of our liturgies, an invitation is spoken out to accept an all-inclusive mystery: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit.” (Paul’s style of greeting) There is an infinite hospitality portrayed in Andrei’s icon. A careful look at the icon indicates that one of the three persons at table is pointing at the empty place at that table. Theologically speaking, that is the Holy Spirit inviting a fourth partaker. Whose place is it? Yours, ours and for the rest of creation. Humanity and the whole of creation are invited at the divine table in order to participate in the divine nature of mutual friendship and love.
No one will ever claim to comprehend and explain the mystery of the Trinity but through different similes (likeness) and metaphors in order to enable the searching human being reclaim his/her being created in the image and likeness of God. Are you searching for what reminds you of your true identity, then listen to the Trinitarian truth: You are different and yet connected to all and everything. Don’t close yourself up! Disconnection makes you lifeless; therefore, be like the God you worship and stay connected!
By Fr. Anthony Kibira MCCJ
