Las Lajas

When the imposing Sanctuary of Las Lajas flashed up as my screen background this morning, I wondered what it was.  Perhaps an intricate testament to the wealth and power of an ancient oligarch?  With doors the height of three people, it dwarfed the few people on its balcony.

The second option was that it was someone's testament to the power of God.  Housing a miraculous painting of Mary, this is what it was.

I assured myself that the second option was better.  Better to build magnificent buildings which praise God rather than ourselves, right?  

Las Lajas spans a river and so acts as a bridge as well as a destination for pilgrims.  Its tall doors and windows are intricate and magnificent.  Situated in the south-west of Columbia, its architecture rivals anything in Europe.  It is in perfect condition, unlike most in Europe, having only been completed in 1949.

Is this what God desires?  Magnificent buildings to let the triune God know that they are great?  It might be easy to say "yes".  The building is eye-catching.  It made it to the screen background library of a popular software company.  It is exposing a lot of people to something about God.  But what?  And how much more, if the energy that went into the building was channeled into loving service of neighbour in the name of Christ?  What would Columbia look like then?!