On the Gothic towers of...
Illustration
On the Gothic towers of one of Europe's great cathedrals, looking down upon you as you come into the church and leave it, are the gargoyles, hideous and grotesque. There is something mysterious about putting a gargoyle with its devilish continence on the house of God. The gargoyle seems to have been the symbol of how worship and faith in Christ cast out the evil spirit from the hearts of people. There is no doubt that worship and prayer in the church subdue passion and cast out evil spirits. There are those who have entered the church with evil purposes in their hearts; they were about to yield to what would have been fatal temptation, but they left the church changed.
On the main doors of the Cathedral of Milan are likenesses of David and Moses. Young David is holding the head of Goliath in his hand. Moses is smiting the rock at Rephidim, and the water is gushing out of the rock for a thirsty multitude. These two figures, confronting the worshiper as she enters the great cathedral, are symbols of the opportunity, the blessings, and the power of worship and a relationship to God and his house. David, slaying the giant in the name of the Lord, stands for our victory over temptation, and the water gushing out of the rock stands for Christ, the Water of Life, the Satisfaction of our deepest spiritual needs and our highest spiritual aspirations.
Many of us, like Mary, have been sitting at Jesus' feet at each opportunity. These our Lord would commend with Mary. "Keep it up!" he would say. Others, too much like Martha, he would change and improve with this text.
On the main doors of the Cathedral of Milan are likenesses of David and Moses. Young David is holding the head of Goliath in his hand. Moses is smiting the rock at Rephidim, and the water is gushing out of the rock for a thirsty multitude. These two figures, confronting the worshiper as she enters the great cathedral, are symbols of the opportunity, the blessings, and the power of worship and a relationship to God and his house. David, slaying the giant in the name of the Lord, stands for our victory over temptation, and the water gushing out of the rock stands for Christ, the Water of Life, the Satisfaction of our deepest spiritual needs and our highest spiritual aspirations.
Many of us, like Mary, have been sitting at Jesus' feet at each opportunity. These our Lord would commend with Mary. "Keep it up!" he would say. Others, too much like Martha, he would change and improve with this text.
