Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
15th November 2009
Preacher: The Rev'd Dr Ann Solari, Hon Deacon of St John's Cathedral

Readings: 1 Sam 1.4-20, Song of Hannah, Hebrews 10.11-25,
St Mark 13. 1-11

Theme: 'How much is a cathedral worth?'

The consecration was a wonderful event; the finishing of this beautiful and inspiring building is something that most of us here will never forget. So how would we feel if Jesus walked in here today and while he was being shown round, turned to us and said,

‘Do you see this great building? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’?

The reality is that this is a building and that at some stage it won’t be here anymore. But does that mean it wasn’t worth building in the first place.

Jesus also described wars and earthquakes, the disintegration of communities, the arrest and trial of his disciples. What does this mean? What is he talking about and why?

I believe that Jesus is reminding us that our human society is fragile. The world we build for ourselves is not permanent. The material things we have and we want will never last forever. In this world as we know it disasters are always happening. In Jesus’ time they lived with war and oppression, injustice, disasters both natural and manmade, the same as we do today and have done throughout known history. This passage is a very good description of human life as we know it, as we see and hear every day on the news, as we read about it in our newspapers.

I believe this passage allows us to look at who we are, both as a community in this place and as part of the wider church. It also allows us to think about what we do and how we can do it better. This is particularly important this morning as we prepare to welcome Tamara, Naomi and Cameron who wish to affirm their faith and become part of who we are.

So, is it worth spending millions of dollars on a building? Is a cathedral good value for money?

I think it depends on why it is built. If we were to build a beautiful cathedral in order to show how good and how special we are, then no I don’t think it is. But I don’t think that is why this place has been built. I think this place is worth every cent that has been spent on it for many reasons and you may have reasons I haven’t thought about.

I believe that this place has been built to show how wonderful God is, how God and God’s people matter.

I believe it provides a space where we can worship in the best way possibly – it is a space where liturgy and music and prayer and art can all come together in the best way possible.

It provides the diocese with a focal point and gives the city a sacred space where people from all faiths and from none, can come and find space, and quietness, and safety, where holiness and comfort can surround them.

It provides a place for everyone regardless of age or ethnicity.

It opens our lives and the lives of others to opportunities we haven’t even thought of yet.

But of course this cathedral is more than just the building, we are the cathedral too. The cathedral consists of all those who feel that this place is their spiritual home, all of us who gather here regularly to worship, all of those who come and offer time or talents in some way. It is the people who come here on Sundays as well as those who come during the week. It is those who come daily or weekly or monthly or annually and those who would like to come but just find it too difficult. Together we are as much the cathedral as the building is and it is us and the building together that makes this place the special sacred place it is.

Being part of any community is special because the members of the community actually nourish and grow community while they themselves are formed. Being a community in Christ is even more special because the community is rooted in Christ and in God’s love. This means that each member of the community is nourished in and by love and we can all grow to our full potential. Within Christ’s church we can become who God wants us to be and lead our lives in the best way possible.

But being part of the community also brings responsibilities with it. We are responsible together for how the community lives and grows. We are responsible for the fruit it bears and how it interacts with communities in the world outside. As Christians we are called to look after the poor and the needy, to help those who need help and to care for God’s world and its people. We are each individually and corporately responsible for what happens here and the ministries that happen within this place and from this place. We are each individually responsible for how the money is raised and how the money is spent.

Jesus called his disciples to get up and follow him. He expected them to follow him every day of the week; to be central to their lives not just on the periphery. We are called in the same way. We are called to live our lives as whole people, not to divide ourselves up into the work person, the home person and the church person. We are called to live each and every day with God.

And this means that we have to think about God in all aspects of our lives including our money. Jesus may not have called us to be poor but he did call us to think and to pray. He did call us to consider other people and he did call us to take responsibility for our lives and what happens as a result of our actions.

We are welcoming Tamara, Naomi and Cameron today who think that what we have is worth being part of.

How much do we think it is worth?

Amen

© Ann Solari 2009