How awesome is this place
‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’
Last week, Mike and I were in North Wales for two or three days visiting our son who lives in the Snowdonia national park. I love being in the mountains of North Wales as much as I love the mountains of Sutherland where we would often holiday when our children were little. For in the midst of those wild places I have a strong sense of God’s presence, his power and his majesty. At the same time I feel I am put in my place as I contemplate the creative energy that formed those places, or watch a buzzard or eagle soaring on the thermals far above me. While I would prefer the luxury of a comfortable bed rather than a stone for my pillow, I do get a sense of what Jacob might have been feeling as he slept in the middle of his wild place – surely the Lord is in this place.
Indeed, I suspect that many of us have similar experiences – places we have visited when we sense the very presence of God. And as Jacob was moved to place the stone on which he had laid his head and set it up for a pillar to the glory of God, mankind has been moved to build temples and synagogues, churches and mosques as powerful reminders and symbols of God’s presence in the midst of his people.
Our Gospel reading this morning recalls the time when Jesus is in the temple of Jerusalem at the time of the Festival of Dedication. This particular festival goes back to 165 BC when it was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus to commemorate the purification of the Temple and its altar after he had recaptured it from the occupying pagan forces. A special feature of the feast which was ordered to last eight days was the lighting of lamps – hence it was sometimes called the Feast of the Lights. Within the Jewish tradition, this event is celebrated in December during the eight day Feast of Hannukah.
Within the Christian tradition, our Feast today recalls that ancient ceremony. Records show that there has been a place of Christian worship on this site since at least the 12th century, and as many of you may know, this is the third church to have been built on this site. What we celebrate today is the dedication of this particular temple, this building, this glorious church as a particular place of God’s presence with us in Word and Sacrament. It is a day of joy and celebration when all our senses are touched that our spirits my soar and glimpse heaven on earth. I don’t imagine this Church is anything like that which was first built and consecrated over 500 years ago for God is not static, but always and ever dynamic – moving, changing, leading his people ever onward to a new vision. It has changed over time, reflecting the many varied ways God’s people endeavour to express through art and architecture their experience of encountering the Holy – how awesome is this place. It has changed too, so that it might meet the changing needs of the people and community whom the church is called to serve. By God’s grace, working through the power of His Holy Spirit to embolden His cautious, fearful, uncertain, courageous joyful people, that change will continue over time. And through all the changes that have been and will yet be in the future, people have and will be moved to share the words of Jacob - “Surely, God is in this place!”
But according to Scripture, the Temple is not simply the sacred building, but also the spiritual community. In the same way, the church, beautiful though this place is, is not just about the building, but about the people who live in relationship to God – a community that gathers here to faithfully worship, to share the sacraments, to pray and then take out far beyond those doors the Good News of God’s love to the countless people in Kettering and beyond who long to know that they are loved and valued simply for who they are. Just a few weeks ago, I was talking to a lady in the hospice who was terminally ill. Andrea longed for her death to hasten, that she might be free of pain. Hers was not physical pain, but pain of an entirely different order. She felt of absolutely no worth, because, as she put it, ‘I can no longer do anything or produce anything.’ She is one of so many people in our communities who either have no experience or have lost the sense of being loved, simply because they are who they are. Today, at least part of the reason for this Festival, is to rededicate ourselves as living stones within this spiritual temple committed to living the Good News of God in such a way that Andrea, the people who shelter in the church doorway and the many others in our town and surrounding villages, feel through our relationship with them loved, valued and nurtured, not for what they can do or produce, but quite simply for who they are. This building serves to identify a holy place, but you and I who faithfully meet here, whether it is day by day, or week by week are the living stones that is the church of Christ in this place, the living stones though which others are drawn to experience the love of God.
At the centre of our festival today is the celebration of the Eucharist – Christ himself is present in the very midst of us. The voices in the temple ring in our ears - “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly”. Jesus responds “I’ve told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me”. Christ himself asks each one of us now – “do you hear my voice, are you following my lead”. And what shall our answer be as we approach the altar and come face to face with ultimate love?
The passage of time has made its mark upon the stones of this building; the faces of the people who have joyfully worshipped, quietly prayed and marked life’s passage in this place have changed many times over, but the purpose of this place remains unchanging – a holy place where the people of God meet to worship Him who is ever present - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; a holy place from which the living stones are sent forth to follow Christ, and to carry his love, justice and compassion out into the world beyond these door that others might also hear his voice and follow him. This is not an optional extra – mission, to be living stones, witnessing to the love of Christ himself – is the central pillar upon which the church is built – it is our sacred duty.
500 years ago, the people of Kettering certainly had faith, but faith underpinned with courage and vision bringing to birth this beautiful holy place. As we celebrate and give thanks to God for all that this Church has been and has signified to the thousands of people through the years I pray that God may grant to each one of us the same faith, courage and vision that will ensure this holy place will continue to meet the needs of all who make the community we are called to serve.
Canon Lesley McCormack, 4th October, 2009
