If the Temple adorned with Costly Stones and votive offerings had its challenges, the Temple of the Holy Spirit (Body) has its own Challenges

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ordinary Season 34th Week - Tuesday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 21:5-11*

*First Reading - Dn 2:31-45*

*If the Temple adorned with Costly Stones and votive offerings had its challenges, the Temple of the Holy Spirit (Body) has its own Challenges*

*1) The Jerusalem Temple*

This temple was the identity for every Jew. 

Every Jew believed that God of Israel lived in this temple 

It was an important place and figure for every Jew. 

Anything to anyone could happen but not to the Temple. 

They could think of the destruction of anything but not of the Temple. 

Such a temple took so many years to build with costly stones and with other things

It was the sign that God lived among them and there can be no end to it. 

*2) The Challenges and destruction of the Temple*

Such an important temple with costly stones and votive offerings could face in the near future its own challenges. 

As Jesus prophesied, the temple had its challenges and finally it was destroyed by the Romans in the Year 70AD. 

Something which they thought to be eternal, could not stand. 

*3) The Temple of the Holy Spirit*

St Paul says that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Such a temple should be adorned with costly stones. 

The costly stones of the temple of the Holy Spirit could be 

Forgiveness

Humility

Love 

Sacrifice

Sharing 

Generosity

Sincerity

Service 

Helping hand 

Justice, and Truth

These are the costly stones of the temple of the Holy Spirit, and one should beautify the Temple of the Holy Spirit with these costly stones 

*4) The Temple with costly Stones and the Challenges*

If the Jerusalem temple which was built by costly stones had its own challenges, the Temple of the Holy Spirit has its own challenges. 

So one can not rule out the possibility of the challenges because of the costly stones in the temple. 

Challenges are the part of the Temple of the Holy Spirit

*5) The Challenges of the Holy Spirit*

The daily struggles of life 

Various sicknesses and crisis in life 

The bodily weaknesses

The failures and problems in life 

These challenges at times disturb the Temple of the Holy Spirit. 

So one must be ready at all times to face the challenges of life, even if the Temple I'd built in costly stones 

*How is my Temple of the Holy Spirit??*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*