During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, C4SO celebrates artist He Qi, who reinterprets sacred art within an ancient Chinese art idiom. His work is a blend of Chinese folk art and traditional painting technique with the iconography of the Western Middle Ages and Modern Art. On each Sunday during May, we have licensed one of He’s paintings to illuminate one of the lectionary readings. We will provide prompts for you to do Visio Divina, or “sacred seeing,” an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into a sacred image to see what God might have to show us.
Painting Abraham and Angels by He Qi
Lectionary Reading | Sunday, May 30: John 3:1-16 and Psalm 93
John 3:1-16
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Psalm 93
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.
Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.
Visio Divina | Prompt
Today is Trinity Sunday. Imagine that you are surrounded by God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Take a few moments to welcome each person of the Trinity into this present moment. Let their love envelope you. Let gratitude for their presence fill you.
Our image this week, like many famous icons of the Trinity, is inspired by the narrative found in Genesis 18, often entitled “The Hospitality of Abraham.” As you gaze on the image, what do you notice about Abraham? What posture do you imagine him inhabiting? Is he serving joyfully, fearfully, begrudgingly? Is his pace hurried, calm, frantic or steady? Do you imagine him trying to keep a safe distance? Is he hiding behind the serving platter, or is he preparing to pull up a seat at the table?
Now imagine that God, in Three Persons, has shown up to your house in this very same way. How would you respond? What would your posture, pace and position be if the Father, Son and Holy Spirit sat down at your dinner table? We often engage the Trinity on a dense theological plane, but how might you bring the ever-present reality of the Triune God into your daily life this week? How can you serve and be served by the divine persons of the Trinity today?
As you engage the Gospel lesson for Sunday, do you relate to Nicodemus? He initially comes to Jesus, acknowledging that He is special, but then sinks into a state of bewilderment at the truth of who Jesus is and what He asks of him. In this moment, deepen your awareness of God’s presence. See him at your table. Admit the things you don’t understand, ask God to reveal the things you may subconsciously not want to understand, and pray that you would embrace the life God invites you into. The divine life is full of mystery and wisdom, knowing and unknowing, the seen and unseen. Ask God to give you rest at his table, in his life—and the ability to embrace all you know and don’t know, all that is seen and unseen.
Finally, ask God to bring to mind people you know who need to experience the hospitality of God through the hospitality of your own table. Who might you invite to a meal in your home this week?