Community of Love

The left angel symbolizes God the Father. He blesses the cup, yet his hand is painted in a distance, as if he passes the cup to the central angel. Viktor Lazarev suggests that the central angel represents Jesus Christ, who in turn blesses the cup as well and accepts it with a bow as if saying "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will". (Mt 26:39)[12] The nature of each of the three hypostases is revealed through their symbolic attributes, i.e. the house, the tree, and the mountain.[6] The starting point of the divine administration is the creative Will of God, therefore Rublev places the Abraham's house above the corresponding angel's head. The Oak of Mamre can be interpreted as the tree of life,[6] and it serves as a reminder of the Jesus's death on the cross and his subsequent resurrection, which opened the way to eternal life. The Oak is located in the centre, above the angel who symbolizes Jesus. Finally, the mountain is a symbol of the spiritual ascent, which mankind accomplishes with the help of the Holy Spirit.[10] The unity of the Trinity's three hypostases expresses unity and love between all things: "That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:21) — Trinity: Hospitality of Abraham

15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you." (John 14:15-17)

As Jesus continued to prepare the disciples for life after his death and resurrection, he told them that obeying the command to love others well was the way to show their love for Jesus. Jesus knew that only with love could God's presence, power, and peace seep into every aspect of their lives and infiltrate the world at large. Jesus promised that, as they sought to build a community of love, they would not be alone. The Spirit of truth would be with them to guide them, remind them of Jesus' teachings, and give them the strength of God's presence.

The love that they were, and we are, called to live out is not a call to like, or agree with everyone, but a call to seek justice and peace with and for all - those in mansions and those without shelter, those gunned down without cause and those who pull the trigger. Love is a verb (as well as a noun), and the call to love is a call to action. From the pen to the gavel, we are called to use our power righteously. Rather in a voting booth, on an absentee ballot, or in the streets, we are called to let our voices be heard. Rather alone in our homes, gathered via Zoom, or gathered together in places of worship, we are called to make our requests known to the God who hears and answers prayer. God's people have always been called to be light in a dark world. They will know we are Christians by our unity in Love.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

(John 17:20-21)