La Sagrada Familia: The Bible Written In Stone.

If you missed CBS’ 60 minutes on Sunday night you missed out. But fear not dear ones! I’m about to share the goodies.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50142539n

When I first saw this church I was like Judas, ‘Whaaat? This money could have been used to feed the hungry!” And then when we went inside and climbed up one of the spiral-towers (you cannot go back, they are not much wider than a human body arms at sides, you have to keep climbing to the top and get the elevator down.)  I said, “Oh Jesus, help me!”

Then we went into the main sanctuary which was about 2/3rd finished, and we saw the artisans working on marble, glass, wood and whatnot I said, “Wow!” But it didn’t feel like a church to me. It felt like a work of art. The only thing that differentiated this church from an art-gallery was the fact that everywhere, EVERYWHERE, I saw the Word of God.

The Word is carved on the massive, MASSIVE wood doors as you enter the church. It is on every (inner and outer) wall, pillar, ceiling, floor, window, tower and gate. The carvings and colors, so beautifully done words cannot describe them, bring you to your knees in worship. They glorify God like…. nothing on earth. When I saw the almost-finished sanctuary on 60 minutes on Sunday night I cried and wanted to throw myself on the floor of that man’s gift to God. The spatiality of this church makes one realize how very small we truly are.

I believe that this man’s gift to God blessed God beyond measure. The church draws millions from all walks of life, and from every corner of the earth, all year and every year, starting 130 years ago. What a testimony and best summed-up by the Japanese sculptor working on the church at present. He was a Buddhist who became a Catholic Christian because of Gaudi’s work/faith. What did Paul say he would do to save just one?

Yes, the probably billions, by now, could have been used to feed and clothe the poor and needy, that was my first reaction to this church, but I was missing the big picture. One tiny little man so in love with God wanted to bring Him the very best he had to give and lay it at His feet. He wanted to tell the world of his God and the salvation He so lovingly offers to all – which reminds me of three wise men who left everything to search a long and hazard-filled desert-road for the One they knew was King of Kings just to lay down at His feet and worship Him, and pour on Him the best of all they owned. It also reminds me of King David and his son, King Solomon building the temple for God. It was David’s heart’s desire, but God designed the temple (down to what wood, stone, gold and silver should be used ) and chose Solomon to do the work, they too gave only the best.

We are each blessed by gifts from God. Some are artists, some architects, some mothers, some priests, some laborers, some listeners, some talkers, some healers, some fathers, some financiers, some farmers, some sparrows, some donkey’s, but each and every one of us have special gifts bestowed on us by our loving Father. What if we each used our gifts as this man Gaudi did his? What if we each gave our all because of our love for God? What if we were SO focused on loving God that we didn’t even notice the world going by/on? Would this world be a different place? I think maybe it would.

I SO want to go back to visit La Sagrada Familia, but I worry that they would never get me off the floor. Or that I may just burst into songs of praise and not be able to stop. Let’s pray that God will make the way and keep me sane while there.    :-)

(Sorry for all the edits folks, my spell-checker doesn’t always find the errors!  I’m docking his pay! )

 

 

 

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