Sunday evening

It has been a long day (once again) for all of us. We have all spent time with people who are suffering and we have all suffered the effects of this tragedy.

The darkening hours of evening are traditionally in the church of once again giving everything to God. The New Zealand Prayer Book has a beautiful night prayer:

Lord it is night.

The night is for stillness.

Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.

What has been done has been done;

what has not been done has not been done.

Let it be.

The night is dark.

Let our fears of the darkness of the world

and of our own lives rest in you.

The night is quiet.

Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,

all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.

Let us look expectantly to a new day,

new joys, new possibilities.

In your name we pray.

Amen

Sunday: God's story gives meaning to our stories

This morning I travelled to Darfield for the 8.30 Mass. After Mass we shared a cuppa. There were many stories of survival and stories of suffering shared.

I arrived back at OLV just as parishioners were emerging from the 10.00am Mass. Again stories, suffering, survival.

Over the morning I spoke with a couple of different media people who were at OLV to report the feelings of people. I found these people, as were the couple on Wednesday evening, to be most respectful and sensitive.

I realised in chatting with them, that they were seeking people's stories. They wanted to interview those who had been affected. I understand this. This is important. There would have been many church services around the city today that featured the stories of those who were suffering. Open microphones in the midst of services would have provided the opportunity for many to share and hear.

But I realised last night at OLV (6pm) and this morning at the Darfield and OLV Masses, that the Catholic Mass is different.

We gather here with our own stories, which we have shared during the week and continue to chat about over the cuppa after Mass. But the Mass is not primarily about our human story. It is the event at which we gather to hear God's story.

And at our Masses this weekend, with the readings of the Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, God once again did not miss this opportunity to speak to us, to encourage us, to love us:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink,

or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky;

they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Why are you anxious about clothes?

Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.

They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor

was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field,

which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,

will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’

or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’

All these things the pagans seek.

Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Each day has enough suffering of its own.”

Matthew 6:24-34

Cathedral: a symbol of ...

I was saddened to hear Bob Parker announce that Christ Church Anglican Cathedral "will be rebuilt." Without a doubt the mayor's intention is to convey that our city has a future, and that rebuilding some badly damaged buildings must not be considered impossible.

Yes, the Cathedral may well be rebuilt. But today such unfounded dreams are powerless to give us the comfort we need.

My sadness is that the beauty and meaning of this Anglican Cathedral is being misread. The first Anglican Christians of Christchurch City built this Cathedral for one purpose only: to give glory to God. They placed the spire atop to point the people of the city to God. This cathedral was truly an icon: a window through which people glimpsed the beauty of divine life. The building was an icon of God.

Whether or not this Cathedral continues to stand at the centre of our city, in no way affects the degree to which God will be present among us. In fact a Cathedral that is reconstructed to be a secular symbol and a Godless icon is a confusing counter-sign. A Cathedral is not a Cathedral if built (or rebuilt) to satisfy nostalgia.

In the mind and language of many, the Cathedral is seen as little more than as an icon of the city, a symbol of who we are. When people speak about the Cathedral they usually do so without mentioning God. The sacred has been reduced to the secular. We have missed the point our ancestors were making in building "to the glory of God".

A Cathedral (and any Christian Church) stands to be a window (icon) through which we see the divine more clearly. A Cathedral is not essentially a symbol of a people, but a sign that raises the mind and heart of needy people to the Almighty and generous loving-God.

This is especially important for the people of our region in these days of suffering. The overwhelming outpouring of support and love shown among friends, neighbours, strangers and even enemies is real love. But it is not simply this. Such love is also a vivid sign of God's love for us and God's presence among us.

It would be the greatest tragedy if this sign was left unread, especially in these days.

If we see a Cathedral simply as a secular symbol of a people and their city, we will also see the generous love among people at this time as nothing more than a group of people at their loving best.

The fact is a much greater treasure: a Cathedral points us to God. Where there is love between people lived in practical and generous ways, there is God.

People, and the Cathedrals they build, are signs that point to God and lead us to God. On this journey together, human life is liveable, even amid destruction and death.

If we begin to think that these signs are the destination, the journey is over, and we are left floundering and rudderless in the struggle of present human existence.

Let the Town Hall, the Civic Chambers, the Arts Centre and the Avon river be symbols of our city and images of who we are and what we can achieve. A Cathedral is much more: not a symbol of what is human but a sign that directs us to God. A Cathedral is a symbol of all that God can achieve in us if we are receptive.

It is this ultimate and divine reality that provides us with hope and meaning in these days of distress.

helpless and waiting

It is Thursday evening, just over two days since the Tuesday early afternoon quake.

There are so many people suffering in our region. As I write loss of life has been suffered by 98 people, leaving behind suffering family and friends. As let we know the names of only a small number of those who have died. We mourn with their family and friends. But we know too that we will know many of the others who have died once we hear their names. This is a time of great suffering with grave fears held for 228 others who are missing.

We know too that this will be among the greatest of New Zealand tragedies.

I was speaking tonight with a friend whose house has been badly damaged. He and his family were suffering, but there was no sign of this in conversation with him. He was concerned for others. He said his suffering was nothing compared to that of so many others. This generosity of spirit is characteristic of so many good people in our city.

The sense of helplessness that so many of us feel as we wait is heightened as we head for bed. The Prayer of the Church gives us a daily night prayer as we commend all our anxiety, our helplessness and waiting, to God:

"Save us Lord

while we are awake

protect us while we sleep.

That we may keep watch with Christ

and rest with Him in peace

Amen.

May the Lord grant us

a quiet night

and a perfect end

Amen.

pointing to God

Cathedral spires and towers are built to point people to God. For centuries church bells have rung a call to prayer and worship.

In these days of devastation in Christchurch we have witnessed the collapse of many structures. Buildings that now lie in ruins, only days ago housed our families and sheltered our work. The two Christchurch Cathedrals have lost spire, towers and bells.

In this modern age we shy away from ancient symbols calling us to ritual worship. Yet our devastated Cathedrals are speaking in these days with a new voice.

So many citizens tell with shock of witnessing the Anglican Cathedral spire fall to the ground. Others struggle to deal with the reality of the collapsed towers of the Catholic Cathedral. All of us are affected by both losses.

In their fallen state, our city Cathedrals are reminding us to look to where they once confidently pointed, rather than to focus on their passing physical beauty. Our Cathedrals pointed us to God.

Yes, both the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and Christ Church Cathedral were magnificent buildings. But there is something more. They were built to lead us to God. And as they lie in part ruin, they remind us again of the fundamental human desire for the full life of God.

Our buildings may now appear destroyed, but our God is alive.

Even for Cantabrians who might never enter these holy places for prayer, these Churches are vivid symbols of much that is stable and sacred.

The Cathedral builders founded their lives on the conviction that God was real and tangible in earthly events and personal encounters. Our Christian ancestors knew that God loved them. They constructed their Cathedrals to be physical, visible and audible signs of the beauty of earthly and eternal life with God.

The name “Cathedral” is given to the Church that houses the chair of the Bishop of the diocese. From this chair (‘cathedra’ in Latin) a bishop speaks of the life-giving relationship of love between the human reality and the reality of the life of God. The two Christchurch bishops have spoken in these days expressing this reality:

The Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews writes “People are suffering terrible anxiety. There are still many people who have been unable to make contact with members of their family and with their closest friends.”

Catholic Bishop Barry Jones promised his “prayer for those who have been killed and injured, and also for those closest to them who never imagined when they last saw them that anything like this would happen.”

Without the usual central city spires towers and bells calling us to live in love of God and neighbour, what signs and symbols do we have to direct us to what is essential?

Fortunately, these painful hours have been marked by outpouring of love and support. Locally, neighbours are reaching out to strangers. From the ends of the earth practical support and assurances of good-will are reaching our region. These actions speak powerfully of the love of God.

In these days we are seeing anew what is essential. The new plasma screen and fashion clothes are forgotten as we realize that we are created for love of neighbour, stranger and even the enemy. We are created for love of God. Where there is love, there is God.

On Wednesday evening of this week, just 30 hours after the devastating quake, Bishop Jones led parishioners of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch in the celebration of the Mass at Our Lady of Victories Church Sockburn. Without the central city Cathedral reminders pointing us to God in prayer, we still gathered as people of faith. At this celebration of the Mass we prayed from the ancient ritual:

God our Father

you set the earth on its foundation

Keep us safe from the danger of earthquakes

and let us always feel the presence of your love

May we be secure in your protection

and serve you with grateful hearts.

We make this prayer

Through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"in time of earthquake"

There is a Mass in the Roman Missal for use "in time of earthquake".

Tonight (Wednesday 23 February 7.00pm) Bishop Barry Jones will celebrate this Mass at Our Lady of Victories.

At such a time, when we are surrounded by such devistation, destruction and the death of so many people, with many others unaccounted for, we feel helpless. In our need we turn to God.

In our prayer we will pray for those who have died, and for those who grieve. We will pray for strength for those who continue to search for those who remain unaccounted for. We pray for all the people of our city, and our country. In the midst of our suffering, may we know God's peace and love.

While you may be able to be present tonight for the Mass, many others will prefer to stay at home. I invited those at home or in other places to take some minutes between 7 & 8pm, to pray with us. We will be united in this prayer.

Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church

106 Main South Road

Sockburn

www.olv.co.nz

earthquake

It is hard to know what to say tonight. It has been a day of suffering for us all. The moment the earthquake struck I went over to the school and spent time with students staff and parents. The staff did a superb job at ensuring that the children felt safe. I know that many of the staff, like me, were struggling to deal with their own uncertainty. But, despite their own anxieties, they did a superb job.

At that stage we did not know the extent of the damage. Nor did we know of loss of life.

Now, nine hours after the quake, we know that many of our citizens have died in the tragedy. We know too that many others are trapped in the ruins of buildings.

And we know that some of the most significant symbols of faith in God, and stability have been reduced to rubble. Our Catholic Cathedral has suffered significant damage as has the Anglican Cathedral.

Our Lady of Victories Church will be open 24 hours a day until further notice for prayer and sanctuary.

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 23 February) 7.00pm Mass at our Lady of Victories will be celebrated for peace and safety in the time of earthquake. You can find details on the website at www.olv.co.nz

In the midst of this suffering we know the presence of God with us. May those who suffer most know the love and presence of God,

The opening prayer for the Mass in time of earthquakes:

God our Father

you set the earth on its foundation

Keep us safe from the danger of earthquakes

and let us always feel the presence of your love

May we be secure in your protection

and serve you with grateful hearts

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen