Reflection

Photograph by Philippe Wojazer/AP

The world has been captured these last few days, by the images of Notre Dame Cathedral caving in as flames engulfed the roof and almost nine-hundred years of history, art, literature and architecture crumbled to the ground.  Stunned and amazed observers looked on either from the streets of Paris or via televised footage of the event as it unfolded around the globe.

Word is out now that the structure has been saved and the Cathedral will be rebuilt.  Donations have been pouring in and the dream of a rebuilding project that will occupy the decades ahead is underway.  Is this an Easter story?  Does it take on more significance having occurred in Holy Week?

Some people, I imagine, will see this as a tragic story of the loss of a culturally significant heritage building.  For others Notre Dame is much more.  It is the faith of generations of living, breathing, believing communities beginning in the twelfth century.  That twelfth century Christian community dared to dream, to imagine a building that no-one had seen before, to put their hearts and minds and ingenuity into creating something new to the glory of God and for the inspiration of the faith of all who would pass by.  And that is what Notre Dame has done.  It demonstrated the faith of the architects and artisans and has continued to inspire others to do the same.

Easter is the celebration of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is the story of Jesus, raised to life by God.  It is the story of God raising up the body of Christ.  It is therefore the story of the raising of all who in any way associate themselves with, or claim to be part of the body of Christ.  And the body of Christ is raised, not for its own glory, but in order that the world might know the God who desires light and life for all of humanity.

So Easter should be the time when we dare to dream.  It is the time when the deepest yearnings of humanity should be voiced.  It is the time when we should breathe life into our creative energies and those creative plans that have been shelved or are sitting on the back burner.  It is the time to look back on what seems to be in ruins in my life and in our world and to believe that resurrection is possible.

The scars and wounds of Notre Dame will become the building blocks for the faith of the next reiteration of the once immortal Gothic building.  But the scars and wounds of all of humanity carry even greater hope, according to the God who breathes life into the dead Son, and so makes life the final word to all who find themselves in darkness or the shadow of death.  

Fr Brendan Reed