"Brothers and Sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Cor 3:16
As we are about to enter into the 40 days of Lent, the Church brings us these beautiful and challenging words from scripture: be holy, be perfect, because you are the temple of God, His own dwelling place. This is not something we can achieve or master; it is a beautiful gift and calling from the Lord. Jesus asks us to make room in our hearts, to make a home for Him, an interior castle, a place where we can encounter Him and build up a relationship with Him, until the day when we are fully united with Him in glory.
The Church marks out the 40 days of Lent to fast and pray with Jesus in the desert. It is a time to give up things that are spiritually unhealthy and spend more time in prayer, a time to make little sacrifices in union with the great sacrifice Jesus made for us, and a time to fill our hearts with the love of God and empty them of all sin, anger, and hatred. This is the path to holiness, the perfection that God calls us to: to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross.
If you can, find a way to step away from the busy-ness of everyday life this Lent, even if just for a few minutes each day. Find a quiet place to pray – at home, in the chapel, a favorite place in nature – read a scripture passage and meditate on its meaning. Ask God to fill you with the gift of the Holy Spirit, to help you to understand what it means to become God’s temple. Listen for His voice, and be ready to answer His call, because Jesus waits patiently, knocking softly at the door of your heart. Prepare a place for the Lord, a temple for the Holy Spirit, and invite Him in. Then Jesus and the Father will come to you, and dwell within you, and make their home with you (cf John 14:23).
Comments
Post a Comment