The body as the temple of the Holy Spirit
THE
BODY AS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Mario
D’Couto
Matthew 21:12-13 speaks about Jesus driving out the money
changers from the temple and as I read this passage from the Gospel, I was reminded
of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians where he writes, “Do
you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which
you have from God? You are not your own; you were bough with a price. So, glorify
God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19:20). Over here St. Paul is urging
and exhorting us to not abuse our bodies and to use it for God’s glory. Likewise,
the temple which was supposed to be God’s dwelling place, was used for money changing
and other commercial activities which consequently made the place unholy and
this angered Our Blessed Lord who began to capsize the tables of the money
changers and release all the pigeons from the cages that were being sold in the
temple.
In our lives, how often we, who are supposed to be the
temples of God’s Holy Spirit, expose ourselves or give into things that are not
good for us. Sure enough, if ever we were to be judged, we should be punished
by God. But God’s love and mercy is so immense that if the sinner repents and
amends his or her life, He welcome that person with wide open arms. May we always
glorify God and honour our Blessed Mother with our lives.