Icon

In the religious tradition of the Orthodox Churches in Greece, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and West Asia ‘icons’ ( Greek word for images) were, and still are, an essential part of Christian life. They are visual representations of the mysteries of Faith and help in creating meaningful rituals. They are a great aid to personal prayer and contemplation. The need for clarity, meaning and beauty of icons gave rise to the science of iconography and liturgical art.

The three Persons of the Blessed Trinity or the  Trinitarian God is repre-  sented in icons depicting three young-looking men who visited the aging Abraham and Sarah his barren wife (Gen. 18: 1-10a). This chapter of Genesis begins with, “Yahweh  appeared to him by the Oak of Mamre. . . He looked up .. saw three men standing near him.” From then onwards through the years  God made the mystery of His presence visible in human form or His voice audible in human sound which was “hidden for generations and centuries and revealed…among gentiles; it is Christ among you”, wrote St. Paul to the Christians of Colosas (1:25-28).

When God in Christ Jesus appeared as a man from Nazareth and son of Mary and Joseph, lived  for three years socializing among all kinds of people, preaching the new way of life,, healing the sick, caressing children,  and raising the dead to life, only a few perceived His divinity and Godliness and received and welcomed Him as did Abraham. Perhaps only the apostle Peter, (Math. 16:16), John the baptizer (John 1:6-18) and Mary with  her sister Martha (Luke.  10:38-42) did the same.

What Abraham, John the baptist, Mary and the post-resurrection-christofers or christ-bearers did and are doing was already expressed in Psalm 15 centuries ago. It says, “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord”.
What does ‘justice’ mean here?

It means as if God using a human voice says to me, “I created you body, soul and spirit in my image, and dignified your humanity by becoming like you in everything except sin or moral disorder. I suffered terribly in my whole self for you. I died like human being
and came to a new life. If you live aware always of my presence inside you and in others outside you, you will be my icon. Others who have not yet experienced my presence will perceive me in you. Thus you will be doing justice to me your creator and Father, and to your body, soul and spirit which I created”.

This is why on the Sixteenth Sunday liturgy, after reflecting on the 3 Readings and Responsorial Psalm explained in the paragraphs above, the Church prays, “Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord(Prayer after Communion).