Metal

Ex 38:20-28

The extraordinary capacity of sacred objects, or sacred space for conveying a visceral experience of value. Metal speaks. It’s tangible. It’s valuable.

When a person sees a glint of gold in a river, it’s a thrill. “Maybe it’s gold.” As children and adults alike, we just have to reach in and pick it up.

The experience of entering a sacred space like the basilicas of Rome has a similar visceral quality. They evoke an experience of value.   Like beauty of every kind, it can be overwhelming.

The tabernacle of Moses had this quality. The gold, silver and other exotic materials all existed in the community before the tabernacle. But concentrating them in this portable, sacred space created an experience of the value of relating to the Most High God.

The exotic and precious evoke a response to the value. It’s just in us.

Of course, we are the tabernacle of the Lord. The precious and exotic potential in you and me is manifest when we act in love, and mercy, and compassion and solidarity. These are the sacred things of life. These are the exotic and precious that never fail to elicit a response.