April 18, 2019
“Holy Week on Fire”
Last Monday, as I watched the evening news, my heart was stunned. The pictures of the cathedral of Notre Dame ablaze with fire brought a great sadness to my soul. I’m not French and I’m not Catholic so you may wonder why I had an emotional reaction. I visited the majestic holy building back in 1976. The architecture was amazing, the medieval engineering was astonishing, and the Spiritual presence was absolutely spell-binding. Think of the centuries of prayers that have been lifted up in that sacred space. Spending time in a sacred space where the prayers of worshipers have ascended to the heavens for over eight centuries is a soul lifting experience.
I know the cathedral had become a popular tourist site, and that it is a sacred treasure of the French people, but it has always been a functioning place of worship and prayer for pilgrims of multiple faiths and origins. It is a sacred space.
Sacred space is important in our lives. We enter sacred spaces in various shapes, sizes and times. Church sanctuaries are often thought of as sacred spaces.
Scripture gives a corrective to help us from turning our sacred spaces into idols. Jesus said that the disciples should not get too attached to the magnificent temple of his day because it would be destroyed (Mark 13:2). Peter (1 Peter 2:5) declares that followers of Jesus are living stones that will be built into a spiritual house where spiritual sacrifices will be offered to God.
Sacred spaces occupy many dimensions of our faith journeys. May the Spirit lead us to always remember that the center of our sacred spaces is Jesus. Jesus is the head of the body of believers. Jesus is the central focus of our Holy Week. He leads us through the darkness, the torment, the cruel death, and ultimately, through the glorious resurrection. Have a blessed resurrection season!
Pastor Mike
“Holy Week on Fire”
Last Monday, as I watched the evening news, my heart was stunned. The pictures of the cathedral of Notre Dame ablaze with fire brought a great sadness to my soul. I’m not French and I’m not Catholic so you may wonder why I had an emotional reaction. I visited the majestic holy building back in 1976. The architecture was amazing, the medieval engineering was astonishing, and the Spiritual presence was absolutely spell-binding. Think of the centuries of prayers that have been lifted up in that sacred space. Spending time in a sacred space where the prayers of worshipers have ascended to the heavens for over eight centuries is a soul lifting experience.
I know the cathedral had become a popular tourist site, and that it is a sacred treasure of the French people, but it has always been a functioning place of worship and prayer for pilgrims of multiple faiths and origins. It is a sacred space.
Sacred space is important in our lives. We enter sacred spaces in various shapes, sizes and times. Church sanctuaries are often thought of as sacred spaces.
Scripture gives a corrective to help us from turning our sacred spaces into idols. Jesus said that the disciples should not get too attached to the magnificent temple of his day because it would be destroyed (Mark 13:2). Peter (1 Peter 2:5) declares that followers of Jesus are living stones that will be built into a spiritual house where spiritual sacrifices will be offered to God.
Sacred spaces occupy many dimensions of our faith journeys. May the Spirit lead us to always remember that the center of our sacred spaces is Jesus. Jesus is the head of the body of believers. Jesus is the central focus of our Holy Week. He leads us through the darkness, the torment, the cruel death, and ultimately, through the glorious resurrection. Have a blessed resurrection season!
Pastor Mike