The Intimate Indwelling of the Trinity – Perichoresis

As we continue our journey towards the feast of Pentecost, the Church reminds us of the reason for our joy: God, Who is rich in mercy has brought us, one and all, to newness of life in Christ. By means of the Paschal Mystery, we have been united to Christ and have become sons and daughters in the Son. Jesus’ comment is quite remarkable. “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.” The relationship between the Father and the Son is not static but it is dynamic and life-giving. Living in a world that is consumed with greed and self-centeredness, it is hard to imagine what it means to be loved in a living and life-giving way. If we are honest, this is actually the deepest longing of our heart, to be loved into life. Perhaps St. Augustine had it right. We were made to make our home in that love and our hearts are restless until they rest in him.

The love that Christ offers us sets us free to be the individuals we were meant to be. Life is not a thing we possess; rather, it is a relationship we live. It means clinging to the One who has called me by name since before time began. Jesus says, "I love you with an everlasting love," and each one of us is facing the opportunity to welcome it and to make our home in it. When I'm at home in, when I remain in his love, I'm in a peace that I know and can feel. It feels centered. I can feel what being loved allows me to do. I'm no longer afraid. I have courage. And my heart is again capable of compassion and mercy. The love of God has made us human again. God dwelling within us allows us to relate in love with one another.

The early Church had a word for the intimate indwelling of the Trinity – perichoresis. This word was used to provide a dynamic, rather than static, description of the inter-penetrating, indwelling relationship of the Father, Son and Spirit in both a deeply personal and spiritual way. It is a movement of love that has broken forth into our existence in Jesus Christ and has drawn all creation into this glorious yet mysterious Divine life. Having been drawn into the bond of love by baptism we are able to embrace in love and harmony all that God loves. This communion removes fear and hiding and creates freedom to know and be known. In this freedom arises a fellowship and sharing so honest and open and real that persons involved dwell in one another. There is union without loss of individual identity. The love with which we have been loved allows us to love one another and to journey along the road that leads to our heavenly homeland.

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.”
(Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass)

--Father Jerome Machar, OSCP