• Statement on the fire at Notre Dame

    The fire at Notre Dame Cathedral is a tragedy not only for Paris and the people of France but for the world.

    Those who know the building will be unable to see the pictures of the fire without feeling heartbroken.

    So many different things that make up the building are priceless – the medieval roof, the woodwork, the organ, the stained glass, the relics. But this tragedy is more than the loss of them all. It is the loss of the heart of Paris, the loss of a place of pilgrimage and the loss of a place of romance.

    Every day this week, Christians will be reflecting on the heartbreak of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to whom Notre Dame was dedicated. Every day as we do so, we will be praying for the Paris its people as they face their own heartbreak.

    Notre Dame means Our Lady. Notre Dame doesn’t just belong to Paris, it belongs to us all.

    This was a building that is utterly associated with Paris. But it was an utterly priceless treasure for the world.

    It was truly ours, and this tragedy is our tragedy.

    Our Lady of Paris, pray for us and for all affected locally.

    Our Lady of Paris, we pray for you.

One response to “Sermon – Pigs Might Fly”

  1. Michael Kalmuk Avatar
    Michael Kalmuk

    On May 28, 2003 my partner Kelly Montfort and I were the first same-sex couple in the world Anglican communion to have a legally sanctioned same-sex blessing and literally two months later, two men in Ontario won their legal battle to be legally married. A few years have passed (10 to be exact) and now same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, many of the United States and various other countries. The pigs are flying and the world has not yet come to an end as the result of this scandalous news! Be true to your hearts and bless this change of attitude. It is all part of our never-ending quest to be tolerant of our differences and to try to love one another a little more. Our ancestors would probably not understood why this is so important. Our children’s children will wonder why there was so much anxiety over people loving one another.

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