I want to say something that could easily come off as flip or snide or holier than thou. So I want to preface it by saying that I struggle mightily with my relationship to “organized religion” even though I am a priest. So I do not blame anyone for being lukewarm or burned out on Church. With that said...
I am amazed at all the heart felt concern pouring out for Notre Dame from all corners of the world: From Church goers and non-Church goers and everyone in between.
Imagine if half that passion went to making our local communities of faith vibrant and life-giving. Imagine what could happen!
It is fascinating how a tragedy like this strikes a chord deep in the heart that perhaps we had forgotten about: A yearning for mystery and tradition and sacred space and transcendence that has been erased from Postmodern Consumer Society. Notice how all the live streaming and technology and social media and entertainment in the world cannot even begin to touch the place in your soul that is touched by seeing the Spire of Notre Dame crash to the ground. Despite our great advances in knowledge and science and power, we live in an age that is spiritually barren, unable to give birth to great works of art and architecture and sanctity like we see in Notre Dame.
My prayer is not only that we can rebuild the physical structures of this grand old Cathedral. I also pray that we can rebuild the spiritual structures in our society that inspire us to create sacred works of mystery and beauty such as that of Notre Dame. But I pray an even bolder prayer, that we would find such an interconnected sense of meaning and transcendence that we would be inspired to build a thousand more Notre Dames, that are a thousand times more glorious, on this planet and beyond. I pray that our spiritual and ethical development would match and exceed our technological and economic power, so we may rediscover our full humanity, and create works of art and architecture which once again show forth the Glory of God.
Almighty God, by the radiance of your Son’s appearing you have purified a world corrupted by sin: We humbly pray that you would continue to be our strong defense against the attacks of our enemies; and grant that the Cathedral of Notre Dame, and whatsoever in this church has been stained or defiled through the craft of Satan or by human malice, may be purified and cleansed by your abiding grace; that this place, purged from all pollution, may be restored and sanctified, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (A Prayer for Restoring of Things Profaned, Episcopal Church)
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