On a recent trip to Washington D.C. I decided to visit the National Cathedral. This incredible structure, made from limestone from Bloomington, took more than a century to complete.
The details of this house of worship were meticulously done. A brief video tells the story of the chief architect who worked painstakingly on these details. In one place, he miscalculated by a fraction of an inch. In such a huge structure, this little detail would not have been noticeable, but it was to the architect. He concealed the mistake with two small gargoyles, one showing a man tearing his hair out when he realizes his miscalculation and the other showing his moment of insight as he realizes how to fix it. The whole structure has that feel that no small detail was taken for granted or overlooked.
At the head altar, the railing features a series of hand sewn pew cushions upon which worshipers can kneel. The railing itself features twelve supporting posts. These posts represent the twelve disciples. Each of these posts includes a carving of one of the disciples. Again, the attention to details was amazing. Each disciple was unique and included identifying images.
But, the tour guide pointed out, the post on the far left had been left empty, representing the disciple, Judas, who betrayed Jesus.
With such attention to detail, I was shocked and surprised. The story of the Last Supper does not exclude Judas. In fact, Jesus includes him around the table and includes him in that holy meal. Instead of representing the disciples, at that moment, the railing felt more like the church. Why does the church exclude when Jesus did not?
Before I left the cathedral, I felt the need to pray at the altar. I knelt at the far left side of the altar, at the empty post, praying for those who have been and continue to be excluded, not by God, but by the church.
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