BUILDERS AND CLEANERS WITH GOD

St Paul calls us, ‘God’s building’ and ‘God’s temple”. We are encouraged to continue with the building of this temple and warned to take care how we build. He says, ‘…let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 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 him. For God’s Temple is holy, and you are that temple’ (1 Cor 3: 9c-11, 16-17). Our Blessed Lord gives us a glimpse of how he would deal with anyone who profanes God’s holy temple. He will make a whip of cords,  and drive them all out of 

the temple… (cf Jn 2: 13-22). 

Beloved People of God, we are all called to be builders and cleaners of God’s Temple with God. We are all invited to take care of God’s Temple, the Church, our soul and our own body too, as God’s dwelling place. What is cared for and nurtured in God’s love, with God’s grace, always becomes more beautiful, retains this beauty, remains beautiful. It inspires and encourages, attracts and diffuses beauty and goodness. Building up God’s Temple and taking care of his temple is rewarding, both at the physical and spiritual levels. We look after God’s temple, our soul, as if we shall be called to give an account of our stewardship at this moment. At the same time we look after our body, as if we are going to live in it forever.

We pray to be conscious of the privilege that we have as builders, cleaners and caretakers of God’s temple, and rise up to the occasion.  May we become sources of living water that gives life and makes fresh everything that it touches, wherever it flows. May the trees that grow thanks to this living water have every advantage from the leaves to their roots.

    Fr. Ted