On A Very Big God

By Matthew Woolford

According to the Gospel of Saint Matthew, 10:26–31, “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Sometimes I forget, but I have never doubted God’s love. In fact, I even think He likes me. However, it was on a recent visit to Rome, Italy, and Vatican City, that I realised just how much He trusts me, and us, as well.

Rome is a fantastic city, and Vatican City is a special country, and should I have had a 1001 ‘Arabian Nights’, I still do not think it would have been enough time to ‘begin’ exploring the depth of history and storytelling that exists within both.

So, within five nights, I did what I could, electing to prioritise the four Papal Basilicas, The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

The Papal Basilicas are beautiful and feel larger than life, an attempt, I believe, to convey the greatness of God and His ongoing work here on Earth. What I found within them, however, were simple yet elegant reminders that we are made in His image and likeness, and He still has confidence in His creation.

The Holy Cradle

According to EWTN, “Many might think that the holy cradle of the Child Jesus is in Bethlehem, but it is in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome. In this basilica is kept… the remains of the cunabulum, the ‘sacred cradle’ or manger in which, according to the Gospels, the Child Jesus was placed at birth… In Santa Maria Maggiore is also preserved another relic related to the crib: the panniculum, which is a small piece of cloth the size of a hand and which is kept in a case donated by Pius IX. According to tradition, it is a strip of the cloth with which Mary wrapped the baby Jesus.”

At this site, like others present, I cried for I saw in the image before me a God who understood my pain, and chose to live for me, long before He decided to die for me. This made me feel important.

It also forced reflection on my fear of failure. It may be premature to say that I am forever cured of this ailment, but what I do know is that I belong to God first, and there is no one in this world who could take that away from me.

Many may try, and manipulation is often the weapon of those unskilled in building healthy relationships, but He is a very good shepherd, who will leave the “ninety-nine” to help me.

The Pieta

According to Rome.us, “The Pieta represents the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion, which is the scheme of Northern origin. Notably, the statue balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism… The artist did not want his masterpiece to represent death. Instead, he wanted to show the “religious vision of abandonment and a serene face of the Son.”

At this site, like others present, I marvelled at Michaelangelo’s genius. The word ‘Eucharist’ came to mind when I saw this work at St Peter’s Basilica.

The Lateran Basilica

At this site, like others present, I admired the ‘Corridor of Apostles’ that defined the nave of the Archbasilica, with statues of Sts Peter and Paul, the Patrons of Rome, nearest the sanctuary.

When I think about this army, it reminds me of Jesus’ words of confidence to St Peter in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 16:18, “…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

The Basilica of St Paul, Outside the Walls

At this site, like others present, I spent a lot of time wandering around the large, inner confines of the church. It was very spacious there, probably because St Paul, to me at least, was constantly in thought, and needed room for his ideas to take root.

In my opinion, he is also one of the greatest Doctors of the Catholic Church for his contribution to spiritual doctrine and the Liturgy of the Word.