Lent - Day 12

     Do you suffer at the hands of abuse?  Now, it is not my intent to dismiss or even minimize the abuse that may come from others. Perhaps the only thing more revolting in the abuses of children by Roman clerics is the disgusting cover-up to 'prevent scandal'.  If ever there was an organization that somehow became derailed from their real purpose and intent, that is one heck of a train wreck. But I digress,      are you at the hands of abuse?

       The abuse that I am speaking of is all about ourselves. Self abuse. No, not speaking of masturbation or S&M. We abuse ourselves, God's temple as this reading states, in a whole array of actions that disrespect ourselves. From gluttony, to misuse of talents, to not supporting the talents and gifts God has graced us with individually.  The list goes on and on.  How do we respect the fact that we are a temple of God? Then you have to ask also, what do we do to support others in their realization and support of their being a temple too.

        Returning to that example of almost everything gone wrong, the Roman church has done a fine job as have many fundamentalist churches have, in their zeal of being pro-birth. That is, they support their view that life begins at inception, the 'temple' begins at conception. They have become single minded and myopic. What of the rest of life? Look at how that church and even ourselves define being pro-life as opposed to being simply pro-birth. What efforts do me make to avoid wars where the sacrednessof life seems something to be wasted. How about pre-natal health, do we support that? How about general good health for everyone and universal health care. Go from cradle to grave and lets look at what we do to recognize and honour the 'temple of God' that we all are. Everyone. This isn't about subsistence either. How do we honour our potential intellects and talents that each of us is graced with. Do we foster a healthy respect for ourselves and everyone emotionally, intellectually as well as physically?

       Sometimes besides needing to be reminded that we are indeed temples of God, we may need to do a refurbishing. Ah, what a fresh coat of paint would do. Some of us might need not only some serious 'renovations' but also an adjustment to the way we think.

        Le us all thank God for the personal temple that we are and search our heart, mind and soul for ways to respect that fact in ourselves and others. Let us pray.

1 Corinthians 3:11-23

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.

 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’, 
and again,
‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
   that they are futile.’ 
So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours,whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.