Saint Stephen and Saint Paul in the Book of Acts both said
God doesn't dwell in houses/shrines (temples) made of/by human hands. Both were
seemingly quoting the prophet Isaiah from chapter 66 and verse 1. Stephen said
it in his speech in front of the Council before being stoned to death. Paul
said it to the Athenians at the Areopagus. Ironically, Paul was a witness to
Stephen’s speech and martyrdom when he was still named Saul and was a
persecutor of Christianity. In his First Epistle to the Corinthians 6:19, Paul
elaborates that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. It sounds like we
know where Paul stood with relevance to where God dwells. This is what most
Christians believe that God dwells in us. Jesus also said: “where two or three
are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Basically, God is omnipresent.
If we gather in a huge cathedral like Notre Dame to worship, God is also there
because we are there present. This idea is like that philosophical question, if
a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound if no one is there to hear it?
But, knowing all this about where God dwells, why do we build such magnificent lofty
structures for places of worship?
I believe we build such magnificent structures for places of
worship as an offering and adoration to God who has given us life and all. God truly
deserves all from us, even our lives. But, even if we have nothing to give, it
is enough since all comes from God. As the hymn says:
What can I give Him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring Him a Lamb
If I were a wise man,
I'd sure do my part
So what can I give Him
I'll give Him my heart
Why build beautiful structures for God? It is our gift of architecture,
art, beauty, and the best we have to offer. We are filled with the presence of
God during liturgy and it surrounds us in those places we have built for public
worship. We walk into these houses from the world outside that can sometimes be
filled with ugliness, and into a place of beauty and peace. Moreover, when we
walk into a Cathedral such as Notre Dame in Paris which took hundreds of years to
build, and is almost 900 years old, we walk into history, the past, and where
we've been from the present place where we are. Beauty is one way we can
glorify God. If you are opposed to art and iconography, I suggest reading the
apologies made by John of Damascus centuries ago. I doubt you will have a solid
counterargument. If you would have asked Frank LLoyd Wright or Gaudi about
architecture, you would have probably not had time to listen to all they would
have told you. A great structure like Notre Dame was/is a collaborative work of
many who simply give an offering to the Savior who gave us all. Out of
gratitude, we physically manifest the giving of our hearts. Sadly, the fire at
the cathedral on April 15th was tragic and devastating.
Yes, the fire seemingly was very sad, evil, and destructive;
however, in less than 24 hours many were donating millions of dollars to repair,
restore, and rebuild. Sadly, sometimes a baptism by fire is what we need to
reawaken our faith and get our focus on higher things, Godly things. Peace and
blessings to all!
