Jul 2013 The Road to Daybreak A Spiritual Journey by Henri J M Nouwen

Continue from ...... God's Light Shining Through Our Bodies At 8am Franz and Robert Johna drove Jonas and me to Strasbourg. At 11am we participated in the eucharistic celebration in the cathedral. The dean of the cathedral invited me to concelebrate with him. A tall young Franciscan priest serving as chaplain at the University of Strasbourg was giving the sermon. After the Gospel reading of the transfiguration, the Franciscan climbed the richly carved pulpit in the middle of the cathedral. All the worshippers turned their chairs around so that they could see him and listen attentiely. He spoke about the transfiguration not only of Jesus, but of all creation. As he spoke he pointed to the brilliant yellow, white, and blue rose window above the cathedral entrance. He said, "Though this is a great piece of art, we can only see its full splendour when the sun shines through it." Then he explained how our bodies, the work of our hands, and all that exists can shine with splendour only when we let God's light shine through them. As he spoke, I kept looking at the magnificent rose window - at thirteen meters across, the largest ever made - and I had a new sense of the transfiguration that took place on Mount Tabor: God's light bursting forth from the body of Jesus. Six centuries ago a rose-window was made that today helps me to see the glory of Christ in a new way. Again I felt part of the long journey of the people of God through the centuries. There was much that was old and much that was new. There were statues of saints, kings, and queens of long ago. There were also friendly priests in dungarees and turtlenecks, women acolytes, and many cars parked around the cathedral. I could see history moving. But again and again there recurred that same story on the second Sunday of Lent, the story of the trnasfiguration of Jesus. At 12.45pm the moment of departure arrived. As Jonas and I waved to Franz and Robert from the slowly moving train, I felt we had become part of something deep and lasting of which the cathedral of Strasbourg had been only one last reminder.

- To Be Continued - © Copyright Shalom 2013. All rights reserved.