麻豆约拍

Good morning.聽 We were building a new church 鈥� something worth reporting in this day and age. It was a very demanding process particularly when it came to matters of design. The idea of a church for so many people will have gothic arches and stained glass windows, something we wanted to avoid. Our site was smack bang on the High Street and our building should have clean lines, be recognizably a place of worship, and able to convey a sense of welcome to anyone who passed by. It was with that in mind that we entered into discussion with our architect.

He wanted a plain building with few flourishes 鈥� minimalist and modern. We must have looked a little forlorn. So he offered a comparison. 鈥淚magine someone wearing a plain black dress to an important function,鈥� he said; 鈥渢he dress is simple and unremarkable but when the person wearing it chooses an appropriate piece of jewellery, a colourful brooch for example, the dress is transformed. It becomes classy and beautiful.鈥� He then went on to show how our simple building, adorned with some well-chosen artefacts 鈥� a specially commissioned window and some locally made communion furniture 鈥� would also be transformed. We didn鈥檛 need a lot of clutter or a mishmash of stuff to achieve our objective. Indeed, it would only get in the way.

The same advice would do us well in the lives we live. Simple and uncluttered. The pattern offered by Jesus should be enough. We should say our prayers to our heavenly father, not overindulge ourselves with what money can buy, and give generously to the poor. And for God鈥檚 sake we should do all this quietly. It might surprise us just how beautiful a simple life can be.

Teach us good Lord to live simply so that others may simply live. Amen.