A
good friend of mine from the other side of the world pointed out that on the
same day as the cathedral of Notre Dame was almost destroyed by fire in Paris (which I've visited and worshipped in twice),
a fire also broke out in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, the third most holy site
in Islam (Gulf news report) (which I visited in my teens).
My learned friend asked, “Is Somebody trying to tell us something?” 
Ever
cautious and innately sceptical, my reply was, “I don't know about that. I
appreciate the comment of theologian at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Paula
Gooder: ‘”Our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has
been burned by fire and our pleasant places have become ruins” (Isaiah 64.11).
In times like this, the only possible response is lament.’ Incidentally
Christopher Wren found a stone from the old St Paul’s after the great fire in
1666 and the word ‘Resurgam’ (I shall rise again) appears in his cathedral
along with carvings of the phoenix. Appropriately hopeful this week.”
I
believe Resurgam came from an old tombstone and, of course, the phoenix is the
mythical bird which emerges from the ashes. I must say when I first saw the
Notre Dame fire raging on Channel 4’s news on Monday night I was appalled and
later, after a meeting, watching the spire collapse and the flames’ seemingly
unquenchable thirst, I wondered whether anything could survive the inferno.
Well, it has. And some very brave firemen risked their skins to save most of
the precious artefacts and relics. Yesterday it transpired that the three rose
windows and the great organ had survived as well as the main structure. The
full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, but I suspect that President
Macron’s ambition for its restoration by 2024 may just be realised.
Two
things which stuck with me from the reports was an interview with computer
engineer, Jean François, an atheist (“I hate anything with religion, but I love
this church”), sitting looking at the cathedral with tears on his cheeks (Channel 4 interviews),
and then the picture from the west door looking past the firemen and seeing a
gold cross catching the light through the huge slender gothic columns.
Well,
last night, I was annoyed to hear BBC analysts trying to extract some political
story from the tragedy, such as Emmanuel Macron using it to relaunch his
flagging popularity. So let me not use it to be overly pious either. However I did
notice the irony that the fire took place on the Monday of Holy Week and I
wondered where all those who were hoping to worship in Notre Dame this week
would be over Easter. For thousands it is a "place where prayer has been valid".
In
the meantime, I will recall again the ancient poet’s words, “Our holy and
beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned by fire and
our pleasant places have become ruins,” and, while lamenting, take comfort in
the hope of resurrection, however it comes.
