LIVING TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jews
throughout the world celebrate a very special holiday, usually sometime
in December called the Hanukkah or Festival of Lights. The origin of
this is what we read in today’s First Reading: the Maccabee brothers
defeated the Gentile army, re-took Jerusalem, reconstructed and
rededicated the Temple.
In the Gospel for today, on the other hand, there is also something
about the Temple of Jerusalem. But in this case, Jesus is the one
cleansing it. Having been turned into a “den of thieves,” He ejected the
traders. He restored its proper identity as a “house of prayer” and a
place for Him to teach.
Finally, our saint for today, St. Cecilia, exemplified in her life and martyrdom
the glory of God through the temple of her body — that is, through her
total dedication to Him as a virgin (even if her parents arranged her to
be married to someone), and her self-offering in death. The account of
her martyrdom includes the following statement: “While the profane music
of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of
love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It is for this that she is considered
the patron saint of musicians.
As living temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17), we
too have been dedicated to God through the purifying waters of Baptism. Unfortunately, the defilement and corruption wrought by sin is also a reality for us, continuing to hound or haunt us. But surely it is by no means the last word! Jesus’ salvific sacrifice has brought us cleansing and redemption. More than driving out of vendors or moneychangers, more than any external offering of
holocausts and sacrificial animals, and more than any immolation in martyrdom, Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection is the one perfect sacrifice
which surpasses all. Every time we commemorate and make present this
sacrifice through the Holy Mass, we let that same supreme sacrifice of Jesus renew us once again. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: How are you, in any way, profaning the temple of the Holy Spirit that is your body?
Lord Jesus, help me to see my body as the temple of Your Spirit so that I may have total respect for it.
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