In the second reading today from 1 Corinthians we are cautioned that “the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord.” St. Paul, the author of this letter instructs the Corinthians how we are to use our bodies. The Corinthian Church was perhaps slipping back into the prior way of living before St. Paul formed the fledgling Church.
St. Paul makes some bold proclamations; “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”
If our bodies are members of Christ we should recall that we are made in the image and likeness of God so we have a beauty dwelling within. If we are members of Christ we should be Christ-like. We must respect the beauty God has created and abide by the law He provides for us. Abiding by this law means respecting our human sexuality in all aspects, as a single or married person. It also means we should not abuse our bodies with excess alcohol or illegal drug use.
If our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit we must remember we have been sanctified. At our baptism we received the Holy Spirit who makes us holy and we then should strive to be in union with God at all times. When we misuse the beauty of our sexuality we break that union; we violate the temple that we are meant to be.
The rally cry of the abortion rights groups is; “it’s my body!” Unfortunately, many people do not understand that everything we have is a gift from God. Our bodies are one of these gifts. We are to do our best to care for the gifts we have received from Him, not abuse or destroy them.
Perhaps this is a good time to reflect on how you view your body, your gift. Have you been using your gift as God intends or as our society says we should? Remember, “you have been purchased at a price.” The price was Jesus’ passion.
Deacon Ray
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