St. Michael has long been etched on my memory because of the depiction outside Coventry Cathedral. The first cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War and a conscious decision was made to build a new cathedral alongside the ruins of the old. At the main entrance is the Jacob Epstein structure of St. Michael’s Victory over the Devil; which was to be the last major work he produced.
Coventry Cathedral has long been concerned with reconciliation, following the Second World War, based on building relationships. The cathedral’s Community of the Cross of Nails links to 280 communities across the world, including Christ Church, Vancouver. The first cross was given in 1947 to a church in Kiel, Germany. The priorities include: healing the wounds of history, learning to live with difference and celebrate diversity, and building a culture of justice and peace.
In addition, since 1958 prayers for reconciliation have been prayed in the cathedral and elsewhere connected through the Community of the Cross of Nails every weekday.
Our lives are never free from conflict, either in terms of the world situation, at a local level as well as in our own experience. In our own lives we are often in conflict with others about slights, words or actions that distance us from those we know. As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to overcome and resolve conflicts as best we can. Even if we feel others are at fault, we can be the first to make a move to settle these challenges. It may not be easy and it may well take time and patience, but it is worth doing.
It is good to pursue reconciliation in our lives. We know that evil can never ever overcome Christ. By continuing to walk the way of Christ, by being in communion with other followers, we can make changes to our lives and benefit others as well as ourselves.
Fr Stephen Rowe