Reading

Romans 8: 15-17

When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Devotion

“Women’s Wisdom Dancing”
© Mary Southard, www.ministryofthearts.org(link is external)

In the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement this coming Sunday is known as "Trinity Sunday."  We take time to remember the holy mystery of the three in one nature of the divine.  Early Christian artistic representation of the Trinity focused on Jesus as the human one, a source of light as the Father (a bearded older man did not come into vogue until the Middle Ages in the West and anthropomorphic representation has always been resisted by Eastern Christians), and the Spirit as a dove.   For this week's reflection I picked a piece by Sister Mary Southard, a modern-day Catholic artist in LaGrange, Illinois.  I love the movement conveyed by this piece.  It reminds me of a theological term associated with the nature of God: Perichoresis.

Perichoresis, a term dating from the 4th century theological deliberations on the nature of God, refers to the intimate connection and relationship between the three Persons of the Trinity.  Imagine an intimate dance perfectly coordinated and executed.  While it is technically descriptive of the Trinity, in my mind's eye I wonder about an invitation to participate in the Divine dance.  Have you, dear reader ever been asked to dance?  I admit I find the prospects terrifying!  I can't even execute the Macarena or a simple line dance without overcoming fear and trepidation.  Nevertheless, the God revealed in Holy Scriptures and the life of the Church often, often, often seems to invite us to do things we aren't good at, to step out in faith and fear not.  When God asks you to dance this week...go for it!

Prayer

"Loving Triune God, you call us forth into the heart of our fractured world, in a time when our charism of making one is sorely needed.  Help us deepen our communion with You and all people wherever we are—in every place, in every time and in every situation. 

Give us the grace to see that this sense of oneness flows from your Triune life and is our way of partnering with You in your continued creating, redeeming and sanctifying mission in our world. Amen."

(Prayer from the School Sisters of Notre Dame's 2021 Foundation Day Liturgy)