“The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1)
The prodigious desire of righteous seeking to know and witness the appearance of God is His will and mercy upon them. “No one can endure God’s presence unless the glory of God is upon him.” (Moses 1:2, 11, 67:11; 84:21–22) Though many strive to see the Lord; only few had the honour and privilege. We can mention the Prophets, especially Moses “who saw God face-to-face upon an unknown mountain sometime after he spoke to the Lord in the burning bush but before he went to free the children of Israel from Egypt.” (Moses 1:1–2, 17, 25–26, 42, Exodus 3:1–10) The Apostles, who talked, ate and travelled with the Lord, and the Saints who witnessed His appearance in many ways including in vision as in-scripted in Holy Scriptures. But it is only to Abraham that God revealed Himself in His Trinity.
The New Testament revelation of the Holy Trinity’s appearance to Abraham is the visit of the three guests of God to Abraham under the plains of Mamre. “The Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
They said, “Do as you have said.”
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” So, Sarah gave birth to a boy after a year and Abraham was blessed with a child.” Genesis 18:10)
Holy Ethiopian Orthodox Incarnation Church celebrates this holy day in July 14.
May our Lord’s mercy and blessing be upon us, Amen!
Source: Holy Bible; King James version