JULY72025

One of the ritual masses is “for the dedication of a church” and the Introit prayer is taken from the words of Jacob in the book of Genesis:  “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!” The awesome place of Jacob (the Latin word used to translate is “terrible!”) was nothing like a modern church with pews and stained glass and a sanctuary and statues. It was a rock! Yet Jacob recognized the presence of God. We at St. James who lost our church building can relate to this story. We found our “awesome” place was the school hall instead of the magnificent gothic structure of history. The challenge for all of us is to find the presence of God wherever we find ourselves. God is not limited to religious architecture but can be found anywhere and everywhere. Our whole life long all we are doing is moving from one piece of holy ground to another.