We are God's Temple

The end of last week’s lectionary reading felt strange to me:  “You are God’s field, God’s building.”  Perhaps “God’s field" went with plants but "God’s building" took my thoughts in a different direction.  It is a typical type of transition for Paul who loves using rich metaphors to describe the spiritual life.  Last week's ending points firmly into this week’s passage about building God’s temple on a firm foundation, the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.   Just like last week’s growing plants were not literal, neither is this temple a literal building.  Paul is speaking in his typical metaphorical language using things from life, things we've experienced and interpreting them spiritually.  Paul says we are a temple for the Spirit of God who lives IN us, as a community but I'm sure as the people of God as well.

One of the best ways to draw closer to God and to deepen our relationship is through daily engaging in "Breath Prayers."   When we breath, we breath in the name of God that is resonating with our soul and we breath out our deepest desire.   I invite you to join me as I breathe deeply: 

Breathing in ... Master Builder
Breathing out ... Make me a Holy Temple 

When you are ready to enter the narrative through "Lectio Divina," pray for illumination of the text ... God, Master Builder and Architect of my Soul, fill me with the light of your Spirit as I read your holy text so that others may see me as your Holy Temple.  Amen.

Step 1:  Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 (CEB) slowly and reverently ...What word, or phrase calls for your attention in your reading?  Spend a few moments pondering how God, through these words of Paul the Evangelist may be inviting you through your word or phrase ...

I laid a foundation like a wise master builder according to God’s grace that was given to me, but someone else is building on top of it. Each person needs to pay attention to the way they build on it. No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.  Don’t fool yourself. If some of you think they are worldly-wise, then they should become foolish so that they can become wise. This world’s wisdom is foolishness to God. As it’s written, He catches the wise in their cleverness.  And also, The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are silly. So then, no one should brag about human beings. Everything belongs to you—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things in the present, things in the future—everything belongs to you, but you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Step 2:  Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Step 3:  Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your light, your life and how you feel you are being called?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Step 4:  Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond. When you are ready to move on,  pray:
God, Master Builder and Architect of my Soul, build me strong and build me sturdy on the foundation of the way of Jesus.  Prepare me with Joy to be a Sanctuary and Temple for your Sweet and Sassy Spirit!  Help me listen and love like Jesus.   Amen.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen and if images are a pathway to God for you, watch this youtube video of Sanctuary sung by Jaci Velasquez.  Enjoy!