A Temple of the Holy Spirit

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Daniel & Catherine ready for Confirmation I had the privilege of witnessing my son and daughter receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this past Tuesday at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Lancaster, OH. It was a wonderful Mass with a full choir, trumpets, and all the rest. During his remarks, Bishop Earl K. Fernandes mentioned that we too, like the Basilica, are temples of the Lord. It caused me to reflect on this idea. Although I've mostly seen only pictures of the great cathedrals and basilicas in the world, I have seen some amazing churches even in our own diocese. These structures are a testament to the Church's love for God (read the entire Church - Militant, Suffering, Triumphant). They represent great skill, sacrifice, and passion for Our Lord and often times His Mother.  Yet the words of Christ always echo in my mind when contemplating the beauty that surrounds me in those places; “ Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left u
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Violence and the Kingdom

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Saint John of the Cross, priest & doctor of the Church
Matthew 11:1-15

For me, this is one of those "hard sayings." Who could be greater than John the Baptist? He is the precursor of Christ. He is the man's man. Yet Jesus says that the least in the Kingdom is greater than John. This shouldn't make us think that John isn't great or that he isn't in Heaven. Rather, it should make us think of how important it is for us to attain Heaven. In other words, if John, in all his glory and greatness on earth is as nothing compared to the least in the Kingdom, shouldn't we seek to at least be the least in the Kingdom? It should make us evaluate our lives and how we are living. Are we living for Heaven or for earth? Are we satisfied with our little heaven here on earth? Or, are we seeking to enter into that place of eternal happiness where those, who were meek and humble souls on earth, are more blessed than the most righteous on earth?

The next passage is a very difficult one. Jesus continues to speak of the "kingdom of Heaven" yet it appears that the mesage or tone or something has changed. How do we reconcile "violence" with the "kingdom of Heaven." This violence is not something that these men are thrusting upon others in order to take the kingdom. Rather, this violence is one that we do to ourselves. Only those, like John, who can control their desires, their passions, their sinful nature, by the grace of God, can obtain the Kingdom. Only those who "do violence" to themselves will be able to reach the Kingdom, therefore they are taking it by force - not as a coup against Heaven but a coup against the "old man" as Saint Paul says. We are fighting our way in to safety, not standing on the walls defending a Kingdom that needs no defense. We are on a journey to the safety of Heaven and on that journey we are being opposed by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Only through violence against these temptations can we "take it by force."

So how do the first two passages tie into the last three? Take a look at Malachi 3:23! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Let us arise and do battle for the great and terrible day of the Lord has come!

FROM THE SAINTS - "The Kingdom of heaven does not belong to those who sleep and who indulge all their desires, but to those who fight against themselves." Saint Clement of Alexandria

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