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25 July 2025 The Trinity - Love and Relationships - The Divine Dance

Is there a different way of talking about the Trinity?


​Opening Prayer

God the fulfiller of enduring promises,

Christ the sharer of abundant love,

Spirit the giver of eternal life,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

For your welcome to this lavish feast of plenty,

We praise and thank you today.

God of the plentiful and ever giving heart,

Christ of the generous and overflowing bounty,

Spirit who gives enough for our own needs and abundance for every good work,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

And raise our voices in praise and thanks and gratitude.

Amen


Readings

Today we are going to look at love and relationships and also the Divine Dance of Three – the Trinity. Undoubtedly the doctrine of the Trinity is vital and very important in protecting from heresies, accounting for the incarnation and providing salvation, and maintaining monotheism

Additionally, whilst we do understand God is mysterious, as humans we need to be able to talk and relate to God. However, we are constrained by language and mental capacity in understanding undoubtedly one of God’s most challenging mysteries. Richard Rohr considers the best language of theology we can bring is approximation, with terms such as ‘it is like’,’ similar to’ but never ‘it is’. Furthermore, Rohr stressed the importance of our humility in the face of mystery.[1] To do otherwise would mean ‘religion always worships itself and its formulations and never God.’[2]


McGrath considers the doctrine of the Trinity as an attempt to describe a transcendent God who ‘became incarnate in Christ – and .. who now dwells within believers in the Holy Spirit.’[3] But can we talk about the Trinity in a different way?

In the fourth century the Cappadocian Fathers contributed to a description of the Trinity in terms of relationships and love. Moving from description to relationship, they portrayed the Trinity as a perfect communion between three – a circle dance of love.[4] In the fifth century Augustine proposed the Spirit as the uniting love between Father and Son, a community giver, and a divine gift binding us to God.[5] Augustine highlights the importance of love in the everyday lives of Christians – basing this on 1 Corinthians 13:13: ‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ Augustine analogies the persons of the Trinity as ‘the lover, beloved, and the love that binds them together.’[6]

So that is the theology bit over with!! The Trinity is exciting and fluid, and we could perhaps utilise in various areas of our contemporary personal and church lives.

Diversity - Richard Rohr points to the application of the Trinity to diversity. He suggests the Trinity can help persuade the value of diversity in society. Rohr states ‘Goodness isn’t sameness. Goodness, to be goodness, needs contrast and tension, not perfect uniformity.’[7] He points to the persons of Trinity as all being God, yet all different beings of goodness. He argues that God makes diverse persons and not uniformity, with each allowed to be themselves by others. Furthermore, Trinitarian love creates and maintains diversity and freedom, with neither of the latter destroying unity.[8]

Love and Relationships

We could look at the fifteenth century painting by Andrei Rublev, ‘The hospitality of Abraham,’ - otherwise known as ‘The Trinity.’ The three figures depicted are often seen as representing the Trinity. There is the loving gaze, the respect in the sharing of a common bowl - and importantly a spare space at the table – is this for us?[1]

Interestingly, art historians have pointed to a rectangular hole painted at the front of the table with remnants of glue on it. It has been proposed that this is where a mirror was once positioned. Can you imagine approaching the painting and seeing yourself at the table? But perhaps this is what the Trinity is inviting us to do – inviting us to the table – to the relationship. We are invited to the circle of love – or as Richard Rohr puts it – invited to the Divine Dance.

We join this table each week at the Eucharist, but we can also live our daily lives in that space – at that place at the table. Rohr states ‘I invite you to recognize that this Table is not reserved exclusively for the Three, nor is the divine circle dance a closed circle: we’re all invited in.’[2]

We can also look at the universe. It would seem the shape of God is the shape of everything in the universe. Everything is in relationship and nothing stands alone. We have a relational universe from atoms, to ecosystems, to galaxies. We see neutrons, protons and electrons orbiting around each other, as do planets, stars and galaxies.[3] Rohr states’

‘The energy in the universe is not in the planets, or in the protons or neutrons, but in the relationship between them. Not in the particles but in the space between them. Not in the cells of organisms but in the way the cells feed and give feedback to one another. Not in any precise definition of the three persons of the Trinity as much as in the relationship between the Three!’[4]

However, as an aside, we should be warned. What happens when atoms are interfered with through the bad intentions of humans and made unstable? As Rohr states, we have ‘a bomb of death and destruction,’[5] rather than love and relationship.

Finally, theologian Astley I believe describes the Trinity succinctly ‘Here substance unites, and person distinguishes – but doesn’t separate or divide.’[6] But we could also describe the Trinity as portraying a relationship flowing with love. Both valid, but serving the church and the world in different ways


Introduction to Silence


Blessing

For Solitude

May you recognize in your life the presence,

power and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,

that your soul in its brightness and belonging

connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.

May you have respect for your own individuality and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,

that you have a special destiny here,

that behind the facade of your life

there is something beautiful and eternal happening.

May you learn to see your self

with the same delight,

pride, and expectation

with which God sees you in every moment.

John O’Donohue, Benedictus: Kindle p116

Thoughts to ponder:

We have a large God not a small God, not a punitive God but a God flowing with love. A God flowing through nature, every smile, every chirp of a bird, every reconciliation. An inclusive God – not a God who tries to exclude certain groups of people. A God who includes all. KG

‘There is a rising rumble, like a midnight train approaching through the wastelands. Not only do we hear it from the distance, but we can feel it if we put our hands on the ground or in the water or in the torn bread and poured-out wine. The rumor in the deep places of our souls is that there is a party going on, and we can scarce trust our invitation.’[7] William Paul Young

‘Any notion of God as not giving, not outpouring, not self-surrendering, not totally loving is a theological impossibility and absurdity. God only and always loves. You cannot reverse, slow, or limit an overflowing waterwheel of divine compassion and mercy and a love stronger than death. It goes in only one, constant, eternal direction—toward ever more abundant and creative life! This is the universe from atoms to galaxies.’[8] Catherine LaCugna

The Trinity overcomes the foundational philosophical problem of “the One and the Many.” In the paradigm of Trinity, we have three autonomous “Persons,” as we call them, who are nevertheless in perfect communion, given and surrendered to each other with an Infinite Love. With the endless diversity in creation, it is clear that God is not at all committed to uniformity but instead desires unity—which is the great work of the Spirit—or diversity overcome by love. Uniformity is mere conformity and obedience to law and custom; whereas spiritual unity is that very diversity embraced and protected by an infinitely generous love.

Trinity is all about relationship and connection. We know the Trinity through experiencing the flow itself, which dissolves our sense of disconnection. The principle of one is lonely; the principle of two is oppositional and moves us toward preference and exclusion; the principle of three is inherently moving, dynamic, and generative. Trinity was made to order to undercut all dualistic thinking. Yet Christianity shelved it for all practical purposes because our dualistic theologies could not process it. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/from-disconnection-to-connection-2019-05-07/

Greatly ought we to rejoice that God dwells in our soul; and more greatly ought we to rejoice that our soul dwells in God. Our soul is created to be God’s dwelling place, and the dwelling of our soul is God. . . . And I saw no difference between God and our substance, but, as it were, all God; and still my understanding accepted that our substance is in God.

The little drop of the Father

On thy little forehead, beloved one.

The little drop of the Son

On thy little forehead, beloved one.

The little drop of the Spirit

On thy little forehead, beloved one.

To aid thee from the fays,

To guard thee from the host;

To aid thee from the gnome,

To shield thee from the spectre;

To keep thee for the Three,

To shield thee, to surround thee;

To save thee for the Three,

To fill thee with the graces;

The little drop of the Three

To lave thee with the graces.

The Carmina Gadelica, a collection of prayers, poems, and blessings https://paintedprayerbook.com/2008/05/12/trinity-sunday-a-spiral-shaped-god/


God the fulfiller of enduring promises,

Christ the sharer of abundant love,

Spirit the giver of eternal life,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

For your welcome to this lavish feast of plenty,

We praise and thank you today.

God of the plentiful and ever giving heart,

Christ of the generous and overflowing bounty,

Spirit who gives enough for our own needs and abundance for every good work,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

For the wonder of your provision that never runs dry,

We praise and thank you today.

God whose love never gives up,

Christ whose forgiveness never says no,

Spirit whose mercy never lets go,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

For the hope and promise of your inexhaustible abundance,

We praise and thank you today.

God may we look and see your abundance pressing in all around,

Rich fruit, luxuriant growth, laden branches hanging low,

May we remember they can obscure the path that winds so narrow out before us,

Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person,

May we remember your provision is inexhaustible, a harvest that never ends,

And give you praise and thanks this day.

God as we eat from your table of plenty,

May we see what you have placed in our hands,

Beauty beyond words, creativity beyond imagining, generosity overflowing,

Everything God bathed, Son drenched, Spirit inspired,

May we taste and see that all you give is good,

And raise our voices in praise and thanks and gratitude.


[1] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p27


[2] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p28


[3] Rohr, Richard https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-relational-universe-2016-09-19/ accessed 16 Feb 2025


[4] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p40


[5] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p51


[6] Astley, J, SCM Study Guide to Christian Doctrine, (London: SCM Press, 2010) Kindle Edition loc 4601


[7] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p22


[8] Rohr, Richard, The Mystery of the Trinity, https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-mystery-of-the-trinity-2022-01-09/ accessed 1 June 2025



[1] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p25


[2] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p25


[3] McGrath, A.E., Christian Theology: An Introduction (6th ed.; London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017) Kindle p301


[4] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) Audible chapter 1


[5] McGrath, A.E., Christian Theology: An Introduction (6th ed.; London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017) Kindle p312


[6] Saint Augustine of Hippo. The Trinity (I/5) 2nd Edition, Introduction, translation and notes Edmund Hill, O.P. Editor John E. Rotelle, O.S.A. Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century) .(New City Press. Hyde Park, New York, 2010) Kindle loc 646 (Structure and Contents of ‘De Trinitate’)


[7] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p43


[8] Rohr, Richard, The Divine Dance, (SPCK, London 2016) p43

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