A violinist played.
Of course he did.
This world was made by grace,
and is healed by grace.
The Sign
Many of us, recently, have experienced the pain of closed Churches because of the pandemic. We’ve know the absence of the place where we are fed, blessed and re-graced. We’ve know the loss of that sacred space where we take our sorrows, griefs and thanksgivings. We experienced this for the sake of public health. But many Christians around the world encounter the same experience because of hate – because there are people who hate them, hate their faith and who therefore close and destroy their churches.
A few years ago the Christians of Mosul, in Iraq, returned to their Cathedral, which had been trashed by ISIS fighters when they overran the city in 2014. Deprived of their building, Mosul’s Christians did what Christians always do in such times: prayed and kept the faith in each other’s homes
In 2017, ISIS was driven out of Mosul, and the Christians returned to their ancient place of worship. As they started to clean up the mess, they were joined by others; Muslim neighbours came to help. And if that wasn’t glorious enough, something even more extraordinary then took place: there was music.
ISIS had banned all musical instruments. But in the wrecked shell of Mosul’s Cathedral, as people cleaned and repaired side by side, Ameen Mukdad, a Muslim violinist, came and played a solo called ‘Tones of Peace and Love’
In that very moment, existence became living, work became love, and water was turned into wine.
The Signs
When parties of school children come to look around our Church buildings, they often point and say “what’s that for?” So I explain what things like the colours and vestments represent. But what I really want to say, is these things are not for *anything* – the candles, the incense, the icons, the altar frontals – there’s no ‘point’ to any of them. They serve no useful purpose, and that’s why we love them. They’re not useful, they’re grace-full.
We live in a world of music and incense, poems and kisses, songs and candles. What ‘use’ are these things? There isn’t one! They’re signs that we love, not because they’re useful, but because they’re beautiful.Candles, Mosul Cathedral (Image Facebook-This is Christian Iraq)
In C S Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters there’s an argument between God and the devil about the creation of the universe. ‘This world and these human beings’, says the devil, ‘what’s the point? What’s their practical value?’ God tries to explain that creation is not about use, but love. ‘I don’t understand’ says the devil. ‘If only you could’ says God.
This wild, profligate, magical universe did not have to be. It only exists at all because, as Mother Julian says, ‘God made it, beheld it, and loved it’.
What’s the point of you, or me, or anyone? Ultimately, there isn’t one! – Except love. God didn’t make you because he thought you’d be useful; God made you for love, for no other reason than the delight that there should be you.
This whole show is one wild and amazing gift
The First Sign
It happened in Cana of Galilee. There was a wedding for a poor family –so poor, they ran out of wine, a fact that would expose their poverty for all to see.
Mary and Jesus were there. They always are. They learn about what’s going to happen. Mary does what she always does: loves and intercedes. And the ever-present Christ does what he always does: transforms everything he touches. In his presence, the good elements of creation sing an even greater song, and water becomes wine.
At Cana of Galilee. S. John calls it ‘the first sign’. Sorrow is turned to joy, water into wine. It’s the sign that says this is why, billions of year ago, absolutely nothing turns into something, matter becomes organic, geochemistry turns into biochemistry, non-life into life, brains became conscious, grunts became words, sounds became songs, work becomes art, failure becomes forgiveness, despair becomes hope and why, one day, a bunch of friends and strangers get together in a bombed out church in Mosul to mend, repair and restore while a violinist makes music.
At Cana of Galilee, the sign: he is present, and so the gift, and so the grace.
God is always turning water into wine. The signs of it are all around, and some of us have caught the music. Of course we have. This world was made by grace and is saved by grace.
Ely Soul 