symbols

Yesterday, late afternoon, I went for a walk around the city. Compared to the morning, there were people out enjoying the setting sun. Up by Bartle Hall, church bells peeled, marking six o’clock and as I rounded the corner in front of The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, people entered the church. I did, too. It felt good to experience Mass again. The services at the Episcopal Church, Grace and Holy Trinity, (actually a cathedral) nearby seem less symbolic and more focused upon the words. This cathedral contains many symbols. The place looks beautiful, but I found myself distracted by all the candles, statues, stained glass, crucifixes, vestments, flowers, and architecture. What began to occupy my mind was how to explain all of this ritual to a new visitor: Why are we standing now? Why do people raise their hands when they say that prayer? Why do the ministers wear those clothes? The gospel reading told the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. One of my favorite stories as Jesus “weeps” (not a normal emotion of his discussed) and he gets quite emotional, yelling into Lazarus’ tomb, “Lazarus come out”. Lazarus’ sister, Martha, reminds me a bit of Thomas. She questions Jesus’ actions and words. I like how she stands up to him. Trees suggest so many things as well as giving shade. Perhaps the best cathedral is a grove of trees.
"In the Field" by Laura Tovar Dietrick