A HOMILY...OF SORTS
A visit to London inevitably includes a stroll around Trafalgar Square,that memorial to empire. Don't know how many times I have passed the Church of Saint Martin in the Fields in its midst and yet not indulge my church fetish and visit. It reminds me of the Magdelene in the center of Paris. I have yet to visit it as well.
Last week I did indulge and was amply rewarded. The English have a knack for disguising quality in simplicity and I am told the church has recently been cleaned up. Despite its profile and prestigious location, St. Martin's has a history of serving the poor and the homeless as well as music. Its austere interior seems worshipful in a way that St. Paul's homage to itself never will.
What grabbed me with intensity was the realization that the altar stood alone in the sanctuary virtually overshadowed by a massive window. It took but a moment to realize that the symmetry of the dominant 'stained glass' window without any stain, formed of oblong, ovoid, rectangular and rhomboid shapes was broken by an oval piece set at a strange angle. With no concession to features, that oval was unmistakably the head of Christ and the window displayed...was... the crucifix.
Christ, light of the world, source of and destiny of light dominates in glory and warmth, shared with all who join Him, and the world is seen through Him, not distracted or distorted or reflected but with Him and in Him.
JimH~ Thanks for the note.
JimH~ Thanks for the note. That might have been me in the quiet alcove. It was only after following your link that I found the artist's notion. After looking at some of her other stuff I think the powers at St Martin's were fortunate. Your interpretation makes a lot of sense. Admiring the photo of the window it seems to depict a great big consmic divine hug
Dennis, this is simply, in
Dennis, this is simply, in one word or two - beautiful - inspiring.
Thanks Jim H for the link too.
That is an incredible
That is an incredible window. Thanks JimH for the link to the photo. Shorn of all the window dressing it makes a clear and simple statment: Following Jesus is a clear and simple choice, let love and compassion guide your path. Doing so will allow His undistorted light to shine through, no matter how dark the place it shines.
Thanks for the topic Dennis.
http://enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com
Thank you Little Bear. The
Thank you Little Bear. The "rating" process does seem to be broken.
Picture of the church window
Picture of the church window here.
Dennis I agree with you
Dennis I agree with you completely! In the light of Christ---we all walk---and the light is brighter the more closely we align ourselves with him.
I am glad that I was able to vote for your topic. I am still unable to rate any one else's posting, though.
Dennis, we missed each other
Dennis, we missed each other by ... Oh... just a few weeks! I flew into London on 20 September to meet up with some friends from my 'London days' of years ago. Since they live in various parts of London, one suggested the cafe in the crypt of St Martins-in-the-Fields as a central meeting place. I arrived early and took my first stroll round this historic church although I lived in London for several years. Like yourself, I was very struck by the window. Possibly because I tend to over-complicate things, I took the distortion on the grid behind the oval as a reference to the effect of gravity on the spacetime continuum and therefore alluding to God intervening in Space and Time with Christ on the cross. I note the artist's explanation I linked to correlates very well to your own response but is silent as to my deliberations! (sigh) 'Twas ever thus!.
You mention this church's track record with the homeless and with music. I noticed two elderly 'down & outs' in a quiet alcove of the church, not panhandling but possibly waiting for the lunchtime music recital to begin. There was a grand piano in front of the altar and a young chap was 'tinkling the ivories' in warm-up mode.
Just thought I'd share these deep theological insights with you!