Midweek Devotion 18 June 2025

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Reading

Zephaniah 3:17

“Have no fear, God is in your midst as a hero who saves, he will leap for joy at the sight of you and will renew his love for you. He will shout for joy for you as on feast days."

Devotion


The Dancing Trinity – Vivat Deus


Last Sunday was Trinity Sunday, a Sunday set aside for paying particular attention to God and reflection on the doctrine of the Trinity.  As theologian Paul Ricoeur observed, "the symbol gives rise to the thought."  We encounter the Divine and then we begin thinking about 'how that works?' and meaning.  One of my favorite words used to describe the Trinity is 'perichoresis.'  'Perichoresis' is a Greek term for 'dance,' or 'flow'.  I think of the dances I have seen at Greek Orthodox after parties, particularly weddings where the people dance in a swirl of motion and it is difficult to see where one begins and one ends so perfect is the movement.  This image, I think, captures this flow.

I found the image on the internet at the site in the caption.  I'm told it is a modern, acrylic painting, of Belgian origin.  Regrettably I know nothing more as my image search skills have failed to discover any other information.  I love the flow of the three principal figures in the image.  I love their colors, distinct, yet cleaving to one another.  I love the motion that is represented.  I am reminded of a writing from the theologian John of Damascus (675-749):

"The subsistences [i.e., the three Persons] dwell and are established firmly in one another. For they are inseparable and cannot part from one another, but keep to their separate courses within one another, without coalescing or mingling, but cleaving to each other. For the Son is in the Father and the Spirit: and the Spirit in the Father and the Son: and the Father in the Son and the Spirit, but there is no coalescence or commingling or confusion. And there is one and the same motion: for there is one impulse and one motion of the three subsistences, which is not to be observed in any created nature" (Orthodox Faith, 1.14).

Beautiful thinking about Divine Mystery!

Are you, dear reader, ready to enter into the Divine dance of the Trinity and so, bring God’s Compassion: to your relationships / to your community / to this world?

Prayer

Father, in the freedom of your endless love and in the safety of your embrace, I acknowledge to you that something happens to me and I get lost in the darkness. Instead of living in your joy, I get crippled inside. Instead of receiving your love, my soul is disturbed. I become needy. I shut down and withdraw. I become self-centered, angry and frustrated. I hurt those I love in my pain. I waste time and life. I am embarrassed. I am scared to look at myself. Forgive me for blaming others for my problems. Speak to my soul, Father. Tell me again that there is more to me than I know. Help me believe that my existence, my life, my future is part of yours. Help me see that facing my life and my hurt means liberation and fullness, not death. Jesus, give me your eyes. Help me to see myself as you do. Holy Spirit bear witness to my soul that I belong to Jesus and his Father forever. Show me where and when and how I am not receiving Jesus’ Father’s love. Show me how my fear is attached to people and places, events and smells and things. Deliver me from the triggers and associations of evil. Forgive me for what I have done and said, not done and not said to your children. Amen (Prayer Eight - Perichoresis).