Summary

Notre Dame Restoration Word on the Week 30th November 2024.
This week we learned that the Cathedral, so devastated by fire, was re-opened by President Macron. This was a preliminary viewing of the work on the interior of the building. The first official opening is on 8th December.
Macron was justifiably proud that the rebuild came in on budget and on time! The cost at present is € 700 million but will probably rise to nearer €1 billion by the time work on the external stone is completed.
It’s hard not to compare it to our new National Children’s Hospital which has over-run its completion date many times and we have seen its costs go from €650 M to 2.24 billion. And it is not finished yet!
The Cathedrals of Europe continue to be among the most visited tourist sites. Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited attraction with six million visitors each year, about the same as Milan’s famous cathedral. Strasbourg Cathedral attracts four million annually, while Gaudi’s still unfinished La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona draws three million visitors per annum.
These four cathedrals do not come near Notre Dame with its anticipated fifteen million visitors annually. Paradoxically, in secular Europe, Cathedrals still are popular. They house multiple relics. The Fireman’s Chaplain saved Notre Dame’s most esteemed relic – Christ’s crown of thorns – from the flames and it now has pride of place in the restored building.
In the earlier part of the Bible there was the Tabernacle, built under Moses and used by the children of Israel for the worship of God while they were on the move. It contained various artefacts each of which related to the coming Messiah.
At Jerusalem the journeying ended and Solomon built a temple which became the centre of worship. This was followed centuries later by Zerubbabel and then Herod’s Temple in Jesus’ time on earth. Jesus related to it as its successor when he said “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2 verses 19 to 22). The Jews took him literally and he explained that he was referring to his body – It is the risen Christ we worship!
What Jesus raised was his own body replete with nail prints and wounded side. The resurrected Christ was on his way to glory leaving the Holy Spirit to complete the work in us (John 15 verses 26/7). He, the Holy Spirit, lives in believers and is present corporately with them wherever they gather to worship.
That may be in the open air, in a house, a church building or even Notre Dame!