Some time ago three other drivers and I all arrived at a Four Way Stop intersection at virtually the same moment.
Although too many drivers seem unaware of this fact, the rule at Four Way Stops is that drivers take turns in a clockwise fashion or according to whoever got to the intersection first.
In this case, the four of us arrived simultaneously and so there was no logical starting point for even a clockwise rotation. What happened instead is that each of the four of us was making hand gestures to encourage someone to go first.
After being momentarily stuck with no one moving, the next thing you knew, all four of us crept forward a bit at the same moment! Again we all stopped and again we all encouraged each other to go first.
After lots of silly grins and even laughter among us four strangers, eventually we managed to get someone to go first. It was the complete opposite of what often characterizes road rage — We were terminally deferential! But it was hilarious and wonderful at the same time.
I think that something of that kind of DEFERENTIAL JOY must characterize the interior life of the Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There is something wonderful about a shared love and a shared enthusiasm of one person for the other that is so intense, it results in a never-ending dance of affirmation and celebration right within the Trinity.
Today’s Trinity Sunday Gospel reading from John 16:12-15 is pretty brief. Yet packed into this short reading is the animating energy, verve and effervescence that exists at the bright center of the universe: that Holy Community that just is God in three persons — a Blessed Trinity!
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.” (John 16: 12-15)
Thanks to Scott Hoezee for sharing.
Think of a time when YOU shared DEFERENTIAL JOY with others. What did it feel like?
GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS SO EXTRAVAGANT AND SO INEXPLICABLE THAT GOD LOVED US BEFORE WE WERE US!
