Decide how much time you are going to give to this meditation and stay with it.  It can be 10 minutes or an hour or anything in between.  Read over the meditation but before you begin, remember that this reflection is only an aid to contemplation and that God will reveal what God wants you to know.  The Spirit is always leading, so don’t be afraid to set aside the meditation and just follow!

Spend a few moments quietly thinking about what you are going to do.  Hand the meditation over to God and ask to be free and open to God’s will for you during the meditation.

Just look at the icon.  It may be on the wall or on a card in your hand.  Gaze at the image and let it enfold you.  You might also like to sing or listen to a favourite ‘Friscan quiet song.

Let the colours and shapes speak to you.  If you are wearing a ring, take it and put it in front of your eye so that the figures are encircled by it.  Then, notice how many triangles there are in the complete picture.

Focus on the top of the icon and notice what is there.  What do these images say to you?  Let your eyes go to the bottom of the icon and look at the feet of the two outer figures.  Now look at the three figures.  Notice and become aware of any sense of movement you get from looking at them as a whole.  Become aware of their connectedness.  Use you ring again, if you want.  Let their encircling movement enfold you.  Note the inclination of each head and the posture of each figure.

Now focus on each figure individually but within the group.  One interpretation identifies the left hand gold clad figure as the Creator (you may prefer to say Father), the central purple clad figure as the Redeemer (you may prefer Son) and the right hand green clad figure as the Spirit.  Each person, however, also has blue as part of their clothing.  Let these colours and the interconnecting movement speak to you.  
When you are ready, and if you want to, focus on the tree behind the central figure.  Notice how the tree and the cup on the table are connected.  What is that saying to you?

There are three figures at this table but there is room for, and they are expecting, a fourth.  Who is it?

Stay with the icon for the rest of the allotted time.  As your contemplation draws to a close ask God to bless you and help you to keep whatever insights have come to you in your heart.
End with a favourite prayer or song.

Personal Afterthought
Read this after you’ve done your own meditation.

Sometimes this icon is said to represent the three angels who visited Abraham.  Check out : Genesis 18:1-15; Hebrews 13:1-3 and wander about in these texts for a while.

While preparing this meditation I was also working on a short review of two books of photographs for “Peace News”.  These books show conditions in Afghanistan and Iraq and the effects of war and exile on ordinary people.  It is very clear to me that the meditation and the review are closely linked; it is not possible to focus on our contemplation of the transcendent God without being utterly aware of, and prepared to do something about, the suffering of God’s children, our brothers and sisters.

In my room this icon is on the wall near a print of “The Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio (used in Sr. Annie’s meditation at last year’s Chapter of Mats).   Reflecting on the contrast between the mysterious fifteenth century Russian monk and painter of icons, Andrei Rublev, and the dissolute sixteenth century Italian painter, Caravaggio, gives pause for thought and prayer.  Both artists open for us a window on the divine and in so doing both show us a great deal about the human condition   Both works of artistic genius speak to me of table fellowship, hospitality and companionship and, most of all, that God is with us and all our brothers and sisters.

Sr. Sue

Magnus es Domine, et laudabilis valde.