I am writing this reflection today for Analise, who has been very busy with her clinical work recently.
The founding pastor at our parish, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, used to have a saying near the end of mass. He would caution people to not worship as a Christian then go out into the parking lot and exit like a pagan. OK, maybe I altered the exact wording, but you get the drift. Don’t forget to take God with you as you live His house on Sunday.
The Gospel reading for today talks about Jesus healing the demon possessed man, driving the demons out of him so that he was normal in his speech. Some in the crowd accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of the prince of demons…Beelzebul. But Jesus argues back that it is impossible for Satan, the prince of demons, to drive out demons and still remain powerful. A house, in the case Hell, could not stand divided against itself.
In considering how I wanted to approach this reflection my first thoughts were to discuss political division in the United States. Or maybe the Civil War. North against South. Or the wars in Vietnam and Korea. Then there is what is happening currently in Ukraine. But then I remembered my pastors comments about leaving Church and keeping God with you. And this verse from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?“
This verse most commonly is cited when addressing topics such as sexual immorality or not caring for your body appropriately. But it also speaks to the fact that we are a house for God. Sort of a tabernacle for the Lord. Especially after receiving Him in the Eucharist. And if we are, in fact, a house for God, that house can also be divided. That our lives can be split allowing God’s influence to predominate in some circumstances, but ignoring Him when it becomes convenient. I thought of this verse from Revelations:
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelations 3:15-16)
I recently had a talk with my eldest daughter. She wanted some advice about a situation she was facing in her business. She had underquoted a potential client for some services she was offering and was unsure of how to present the issue to the client. Should she be upfront about what happened or put the blame on the person who would be delivering the service. We talked about how being honest and maintaining integrity, even at the risk of losing significant business income, was paramount. How easy it would be for a new company to bend the truth a little in order to ensure much needed income. But in the end, truth and honesty must prevail. It is pure and simply the right thing to do. She agreed.
I end end with this saying:
There is never a right time to do the wrong thing. And there never is a wrong time to do the right thing.
We need to always stay united within the Temple of God…within ourselves. Because our house, the home God gave each one of us, can never stand divided.
