Cathedrals of Flesh

Reading the biography of Mother Angelica of EWTN today, I'm humbled by the legacy of this extraordinary woman who built an empire of faith on a mountain of pain, spiritual trust and an unbeatable sense of humour.

From poverty and afflictions to physical dangers and crippling opposition, she took on every challenge to faith with a gladiatorial commitment to trust in providence and the fidelity of Christ, often insisting that "unless we are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous."

How lovely to know that. It's true of course that it's not always easy to find clarity in our lives. Still, we can't be sure about anything. The most we can do is to try and make the best decisions we can, and trust that as we step out in faith, God's hand will raise us up and carry us over our fears and difficulties.

I'm suddenly reminded by what I saw on television last night; about how an eagle chick desperately tries to conquer its fear as it steps over the edge for the first time. The tiny bird looks so small and the cliff so high. The winds are so strong and the wings of the chick so frail. And yet...a little trust, a little step...and for a few brief moments; a little fall....and all at once, the wind picks her up and carries her safely over the world.

If we don't take some steps, we shall remain always in the tiny nest of our lives, where it's comfortable and safe, but never what we were meant to soar over and celebrate.

God's love does indeed want to carry us over the plains, mountains and rivers, freeing us to be happy and alive...but it requires us to step out in faith...and perhaps for a few brief moments, even know what it's like to fall in fear. Then and only then, shall we pass from fear to joy, from falling to flying, from sadness to celebration. And from hope to love.

If the Lord inspires us to do something, let's just try and do it, even if we don't know half of what we're doing. In anycase, with God as the architect of our lives, we don't need to keep glancing at the blueprints.

I am never one to build my life around work, so I remain quite dissatisfied with career achievements and such. I think the real legacy of a man is in the lives he affects rather than the things he accomplishes. The real success of a man is measured more by how much he loves, than how much he has or does. After all, more than what we have or what we eat, or what we achieve...a man is really what he believes...because from what he believes in his heart, is how he will live and love.

When I was in Italy gaping in awe at the beauty and strength of cathedrals and ancient churches, I noticed also that these same cathedrals were built to last. The effort, materials and labour came from everyone in the community, not just the architects and the church. Everyone had a part in the old days in contributing their time, talent and resource to building this great temple to God, this great inspiration to faith. And because these cathedrals took decades, centuries to complete, it was always a work in progress. The builders knew they would never see the end result, but they still worked hard to leave a beautiful legacy for others to continue and enjoy.

I'm reminded of the gospel story of how Our Lord cautioned his apostles that even though they work the vineyard, others may harvest the fruits...but it doesn't matter...because anything worth doing is worth sharing. In love, your joy is my joy.

And a man is not measured by success, but by love.

We too must build cathedrals in our hearts, in our lives, in our families. We may never live to see them completed, but it doesn't matter. Others will carry on our efforts. And God will be blessed and praised in the cathedrals of flesh that live on forever in our hearts, and the hearts of those we love.

I pray that both you and I will begin to build this cathedral within our hearts...one brick at a time...one day at a time..so that together, we may raise a temple to love.