Just a word...Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity...May 26, 2024

In 1969, after several earlier incarnations, the Youngbloods re-released their version of the rock song “Get Together.” The lyrics, from “Love is but a song we sing, Fear’s the way we die. We can make the mountains ring, or make the angels cry”…to the ending...Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another right now,” speak of a plea for understanding, tolerance and mutual love. The song’s popularity has waxed and waned, but remains a classic melody from the peace movement of the 1960s.

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a mystery that is beyond human understanding, yet from which we are able to glean much meaning.  André Rublev’s 15th century icon, picturing the Genesis story of the three visitors to the tent of Abraham, is entitled “Trinity,” and represents the three manifestations of God  - Father, Son and Spirit; the Creator, the Redeemer and the Advocate. The icon suggests an array of implications; for our purposes, it is the primacy of relationship that speaks loudly. The three figures are equal in appearance, heads inclined toward one another in a listening mode, full of respect and love toward one another.  This icon presents us with a model of how we humans are to relate to one another; indeed, how we are to relate to all creation. Respect, mutuality, deference, equality and love are the hallmarks of this model of living.

In a world, indeed, in a country, where each day brings new revelations of racist behavior, gun violence and other forms of disrespect, intolerance and dehumanization, how are we to reconcile these realities with the image embodied in this icon?  Do we take seriously the lessons to be found in the mystery of the Trinity, which models the qualities of relationship God desires for the human race? 

From where I stand, my hope is found in this community.  For it is here that I see people of different walks of life, political opinions, and ethnicites come together and work in concert for the coming of God’s reign.  It is here that I see people agreeing to disagree on some facets of life, yet recognizing that what we share, the reason we gather, is greater that what might divide us, if we allowed it to.  It is here that I find hope that we, in some small fashion, can be a sign that unity of purpose has room for diversity of opinion, and that small as we are, we just might possess the gravitas to model this for others.

The closing words of the song “Get Together” might serve to illustrate some of what the Trinity is trying to teach us;

“If you hear the song I sing, you will understand...

Listen...you hold the key to love and fear, all in your trembling hand.

Just one key unlocks them both, it’s there at your command.

Come on people now, smile on your brother.

Everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”