You Are God's Temple
Friday, March 2, 2012 -- Week of 1 Lent
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, 672
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 953)
Psalms 95* & 40, 54 (morning) 51 (evening)
Genesis 40:1-23
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Mark 2:12-22 *for the Invitatory
[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]
There is a deep peace in the brief passage from 1 Corinthians today. Paul offers a very "high view" of our humanity. First he tells us that we are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in us. We are tabernacles of the divine. Of course, Paul articulates an ancient tradition when he says this. Genesis insists that we are created in the image of God.
Every human being is a word of God to the world. That reality is part of the reason why we are prohibited from killing another human being, as Paul remarks today. "For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
But Paul continues to keep the focus where it should be, on God and on God's indwelling presence. We are dependent and finite creatures in whom God dwells. He cautions us from "the wisdom of this world" which is foolishness to God. Instead, Paul insists that "all things are yours... All belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."
Christ has given us all we need in the radical acceptance that is God's gift to us -- justification by grace is the theological word Paul uses for that reality. We are God's. We always have been; we always will be. We live in God, and God lives in us. We don't have to become something we aren't. We don't have to prove anything. We don't have to use the world's standards to compete for and claim the world's symbols of success, security, esteem or power. All is given. All is well and all manner of things shall be well, as the mystic St. Juilan of Norwich said.
Within that security of being God's temple, having been given all -- which is God's unqualified grace and love -- we are free. With that freedom, we can do what God does -- love and heal. We are free to care for others extravagantly, to reach out to others compassionately, to bring the good news that everyone is God's temple.
Later on we'll get into some of the frustrations Paul lives with when people fail to see the presence of God within themselves, and live arrogant and selfish lives. Sometimes it is hard to see God's image in others. But Paul gives us today the fundamental truth that echoes from Genesis: You are God's temple, and all things are yours.
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, 672
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 953)
Psalms 95* & 40, 54 (morning) 51 (evening)
Genesis 40:1-23
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Mark 2:12-22 *for the Invitatory
[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]
There is a deep peace in the brief passage from 1 Corinthians today. Paul offers a very "high view" of our humanity. First he tells us that we are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in us. We are tabernacles of the divine. Of course, Paul articulates an ancient tradition when he says this. Genesis insists that we are created in the image of God.
Every human being is a word of God to the world. That reality is part of the reason why we are prohibited from killing another human being, as Paul remarks today. "For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
But Paul continues to keep the focus where it should be, on God and on God's indwelling presence. We are dependent and finite creatures in whom God dwells. He cautions us from "the wisdom of this world" which is foolishness to God. Instead, Paul insists that "all things are yours... All belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."
Christ has given us all we need in the radical acceptance that is God's gift to us -- justification by grace is the theological word Paul uses for that reality. We are God's. We always have been; we always will be. We live in God, and God lives in us. We don't have to become something we aren't. We don't have to prove anything. We don't have to use the world's standards to compete for and claim the world's symbols of success, security, esteem or power. All is given. All is well and all manner of things shall be well, as the mystic St. Juilan of Norwich said.
Within that security of being God's temple, having been given all -- which is God's unqualified grace and love -- we are free. With that freedom, we can do what God does -- love and heal. We are free to care for others extravagantly, to reach out to others compassionately, to bring the good news that everyone is God's temple.
Later on we'll get into some of the frustrations Paul lives with when people fail to see the presence of God within themselves, and live arrogant and selfish lives. Sometimes it is hard to see God's image in others. But Paul gives us today the fundamental truth that echoes from Genesis: You are God's temple, and all things are yours.
Lowell
| Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: -- Morning Reflection Podcasts About Morning Reflections "Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer. Evening Prayer begins on p. 117 An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at missionstclare.com -- Click for online Daily Office Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html -- Click for Divine Hours |
| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org Our Rule of Life: We aspire to... worship weekly pray daily learn constantly serve joyfully live generously. Lowell Grisham, Rector St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fayetteville, Arkansas |
posted by Lowell @ 7:08 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hi Lowell,
What a gorgeous morning reflection. Every one is a word of God to the world.. I like the nuances of that fine sentence, takes you to thinking of the Word made flesh. What word are my actions, my thoughts, my voice saying? Am I reflecting the glory of God in my life, with this freedom to love and serve graciously that loving God brings? Am I resonating the peace that I know from belonging to God?
How right it is to be challenged into all goodness, as these reflections and the readings seem to do. This morning as I pray the mountains are reflecting the majestic beauty of God, the fir and pine trees are reflecting the gentle light of Christ, the snow on the hillside blankets new life, and the frozen mountain lake sparkles with anticipation of spring.
God's peace to you,
Janet
Janet,
Thanks for the kind and beautiful words from Friday. It sounds like the beauty of your new environment as a reflection of God's goodness is an inspiration for you to claim your own goodness as a reflection of God, created in the image and likeness of God.
Lowell
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