This analogy also teaches about the relationship of the three Persons of the Trinity, which in its order lines up with the original Nicene Creed, not the altered western version. Romanos goes on to dwell on the primary aspect of this God on Whom we depend with our every fiber: Love. There is no coldness in Heaven; when we are truly with Him He is a radiant Fire that fills our entire being, and we sit as at a banquet.The Orthodox fathers use the sun as an analogy to the Holy and Divine Triad. The sun itself is the Heavenly Father. The light of the sun is the Divine Word and Son of God. The heat of the sun is the Holy Spirit.
No one can see the sun, except by the light, which enters our eyes and shows it to us. We have no other way to be in contact with the sun or even know for sure that it is there, but for the light (and the heat). If you approached the sun to touch it, you would be incinerated long before you reached it. The Father, thus, is ever intangible and unreachable to us, in His essence.
There can be no love except ‘between’ and no pure love, impartial and selfless love, except between ‘three.’ Hence, the Divine Nature says, ‘Let us make man in Our image.’
....we take our places at the banquet of the Divine Nature, becoming by genuine adoption what Christ is by nature, sons and daughters of the Most-High.
See the Orthodox ikon of the Holy Trinity, the original written by Andrei Rublev, posted above. There you will see the three ‘angels’ seated around a table, with one place left open for another.
That one is you.
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6 comments:
I love the idea of the empty place, just waiting...
I am really enjoying your blog lately. I like this analogy with the sun, and think it is a beautiful way to perhaps discuss the concept of the Trinity with the children. Also, I love the posts about bees...one of my favorite creatures. I share your aversion to wasps. There are other detritivores that are much more likable.
I pray this little prayer with my girls after the Trisagion,
"Lord, I thank you for the sun, this new day, and being a light in my heart."
Great analogy of the sun and the Holy Trinity. This is good. I will meditate on this today. There is a little sun between cloud-breaks. Covering tomato plants tonight to guard against a freeze. I need the sun.
Thank you for sharing this - I've sent it on to a friend of mine who has been thinking a lot lately about celebrating Christmas in the southern hemisphere, while so much of the 'light in darkness' symbolism of the Nativity seems so much better suited to the climate of the northern hemisphere. Here's one of her thoughts about Christmas in hot places: http://katherinefirth.net/1/post/2013/01/january-09th-2013.html
I've been doing the same, going outside to soak up the warmth of the sun...and wishing for a fire to warm up the cool mornings/evenings. ♥
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