Thursday in Lent 2

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

This is one of those passages with many ramifications. It strikes at the heart of individualism. We often hear that assertion, "It's my life, I can do what I want with it." While there is truth in this, it is only a half truth. Vis-à-vis society and the demands, desires, and projections of others, we need to find our own inner truth and become self-determining. Yes even there we neither exist nor act in isolation. Who we are and whatever we do affects, and is affected by, all those with whom we are in relationship.

Taking into consideration the Holy, the Ultimate, we not only need to recall who we are but Whose we are. To see ourselves--and others--as ultimately belonging to God, changes how we treat ourselves and others. Each look, expression, touch, word will reveal how whether we understand this.

He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? (Mark 4:21)

Why are we, whom Jesus has proclaimed to be given as light to the world, so reticent to shine?

He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. (Mark 4:26-27)

We can furrow, we can plant, we can water, we can weed, we can fertilize, yet we still cannot control growth. Likewise we can, and must, do our part for the reign of God but it is not we who make it happen.

O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
--the BB