Yesterday my year 12s were blessed to have Fr William talk to them about the Sacred and how the Chapel is a Sacred Space. Whilst there are many aspects to reflect on when considering a concept as huge as Sacred there is one I wish to reflect on today. When we enter Chapel we do so making a gesture of humility as we enter into a space to be present with our God. Absolutely we should be humble before God who is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and we are but creatures of dust. We aspire and fail, aspire and fail, and then aspire some more. But I think the blessing of our humility is that flawed as we are, we are infinitely loved by God. Therein (for me) lies the crux of humility – that one so limited is loved by one so infinite. That this love exists as no result for any endeavour I have undertaken and will not dissipate through my flaws. It is something beyond the comprehension of words I think, but in this sense of the Sacred we are invited into relationship with God. This is why a true love of self is not arrogant, true love of self brings humility. I turn to St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians:
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own
interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood
over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but
rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.
To some extent humanity has taken the idea of love and (like many things) secularised it. The truth is we cannot love ourselves as God does, because we are not God. But we can find the space to remember and be grateful for that love – whether that be in a defined sacred space, out in the world God created or in a quiet moment of reflection inwards where distraction fades.
I think that as we approach Lent it is a good time to think about how we can ‘step-into’ that love that exists all the time – even if we don’t always think about it.
The Female Theologian 