Embracing Our Identity as Temples of God

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound mystery of the Presentation of the Lord, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. This event marks Jesus' first entrance into the temple, a significant moment that foreshadows the sacrament of baptism. Through baptism, we become temples of God, a concept that is both humbling and awe-inspiring. It is a reminder that God desires to dwell within us, making us living sanctuaries of His presence in the world.

Living as a temple of God in our daily lives can be challenging amidst the noise and distractions of the world. It requires a conscious effort to invite God into every aspect of our day, not just during moments of prayer but throughout all our activities. This invitation is a simple yet powerful prayer: "Jesus, I know you're present to me because you dwell in my heart. Help me to experience that." This prayer serves as a reminder of God's constant presence and guidance, encouraging us to seek His will in every situation.

Our ultimate calling is to be saints, to live each day with the intention of growing closer to God and reflecting His love in our actions. This doesn't mean performing grand gestures but rather doing the ordinary with extraordinary love, as exemplified by St. Therese of Lisieux. When we fail, we have the sacrament of confession to help us start anew, reinforcing the idea that God never tires of offering us His grace and mercy.

In embracing our identity as temples of God, we become beacons of His light to others. Our lives, transformed by His presence, naturally draw others to Him. This transformation is not about perfection but about allowing God's light to shine through our imperfections, inviting others to experience His love and grace.

As we journey through life, let us remember that God is not afraid of our darkness. He desires to bring His light into every corner of our hearts, dispelling fear and shame. By inviting Him into our lives, we become instruments of His peace and love, capable of impacting the world in ways we may never fully comprehend.

Key Takeaways:

1. Becoming Temples of God: Through baptism, we become living temples where God dwells. This profound truth calls us to live with the awareness of His presence in our daily lives, inviting Him into every moment and decision. [22:06]

2. The Power of Simple Prayers: Simple prayers, like inviting Jesus into our day, can profoundly impact our spiritual journey. These prayers remind us of God's constant presence and help us align our actions with His will. [27:50]

3. The Call to Sainthood: We are all called to be saints, not through grand gestures but by doing ordinary tasks with great love. This journey involves daily choices to reflect God's love and grace in our interactions with others. [32:41]

4. Embracing God's Light: God desires to bring His light into every aspect of our lives, dispelling darkness and fear. By allowing His light to shine through us, we become witnesses of His love to those around us. [38:04]

5. The Impact of Our Yes: Our willingness to say "yes" to God can have a profound impact on the world. By living as His light, we can inspire and guide others, just as Jan did in nurturing the faith of young men, including Saint John Paul II. [43:03]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:34] - Presentation of the Lord
[20:49] - Simeon and Anna's Prophecy
[22:06] - Becoming Temples of God
[27:50] - Inviting God into Daily Life
[32:41] - The Call to Sainthood
[38:04] - Embracing God's Light
[43:03] - The Impact of Our Yes
[44:33] - The Lord's Prayer
[47:19] - Communion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Luke 2:22-40

#### Observation Questions
1. What significant event does the Gospel of Luke describe in Luke 2:22-40, and how does it relate to the concept of Jesus entering the temple for the first time? [19:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of Simeon and Anna in the Presentation of the Lord? What were their reactions upon seeing Jesus? [20:49]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' presentation in the temple as a foreshadowing of baptism? [22:06]
4. What simple prayer does the pastor suggest for inviting Jesus into our daily lives, and what impact does it have on our spiritual journey? [27:50]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of becoming a "temple of God" through baptism challenge or inspire one's understanding of their spiritual identity? [22:06]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that living as a temple of God can transform ordinary actions into acts of extraordinary love? [32:41]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the idea that God is not afraid of our darkness and desires to bring His light into every aspect of our lives? [38:04]
4. What does the story of Jan and his influence on Saint John Paul II teach about the potential impact of saying "yes" to God in our lives? [43:03]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate the simple prayer, "Jesus, I know you're present to me because you dwell in my heart," into your day-to-day activities? [27:50]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to invite God in. What steps can you take to allow His light to shine in that area? [38:04]
3. Think of a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed or distracted. How might recognizing yourself as a temple of God have changed your response? [22:06]
4. Consider the ordinary tasks you perform daily. How can you approach these tasks with the intention of doing them with extraordinary love, as St. Therese of Lisieux did? [32:41]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can the sacrament of confession help you start anew and embrace God's grace and mercy? [32:41]
6. Who in your life might be drawn to God through your actions and presence? How can you be a beacon of His light to them this week? [38:04]
7. What is one specific way you can say "yes" to God this week, and how might that decision impact those around you? [43:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Living Temples of God
Through baptism, believers are transformed into living temples where God dwells. This profound truth calls for an awareness of His presence in every aspect of life, not just during moments of prayer but throughout all activities. It is a humbling and awe-inspiring realization that God desires to dwell within us, making us living sanctuaries of His presence in the world. This awareness challenges us to invite God into every moment and decision, recognizing that our lives are meant to reflect His love and grace. [22:06]

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you consciously invite God into your daily routine, acknowledging His presence in both mundane and significant moments?


Day 2: The Power of Simple Prayers
Simple prayers, like inviting Jesus into our day, can profoundly impact our spiritual journey. These prayers serve as reminders of God's constant presence and help align our actions with His will. By acknowledging His presence through simple, heartfelt prayers, we open ourselves to His guidance and strength, allowing His light to shine through us. This practice encourages a deeper connection with God, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection. [27:50]

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)

Reflection: What simple prayer can you incorporate into your daily life to remind you of God's presence and align your actions with His will?


Day 3: The Call to Sainthood
Every believer is called to sainthood, not through grand gestures but by doing ordinary tasks with great love. This journey involves daily choices to reflect God's love and grace in interactions with others. Inspired by the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, we are reminded that holiness is found in the small, everyday acts of love and kindness. When we fail, the sacrament of confession offers a fresh start, reinforcing the idea that God never tires of offering His grace and mercy. [32:41]

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12, ESV)

Reflection: What ordinary task can you perform today with extraordinary love, reflecting God's grace to those around you?


Day 4: Embracing God's Light
God desires to bring His light into every aspect of our lives, dispelling darkness and fear. By allowing His light to shine through us, we become witnesses of His love to those around us. This transformation is not about achieving perfection but about letting God's light shine through our imperfections, inviting others to experience His love and grace. As we embrace His light, we become instruments of His peace and love, capable of impacting the world in ways we may never fully comprehend. [38:04]

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow God's light to shine through your imperfections today, inviting others to experience His love and grace?


Day 5: The Impact of Our Yes
Our willingness to say "yes" to God can have a profound impact on the world. By living as His light, we can inspire and guide others, just as Jan did in nurturing the faith of young men, including Saint John Paul II. This "yes" is a commitment to live in accordance with God's will, trusting that our actions, no matter how small, can influence and inspire those around us. By embracing this calling, we become beacons of hope and love, drawing others to the transformative power of God's grace. [43:03]

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can say "yes" to God today, trusting that your actions can inspire and guide others?

Quotes

"The great feast of the presentation of the Lord. I'd like to come into this room with my guitar, and with my Baguio band, to hear the white and blue candles that we used to bring back to Jerusalem three years ago… and to hear Jesus into theückeels, sort of the principal footage of Jerusalem inówith an opportunity to reflect… because we are so butter adventures and check in over and over. It is such a wonderful morning. What a wonderful moment! Why, well, Jesus por löf구ki, point had left the temple because of the sins of Israel, and they'd just been driven out by what they had done. And yet there was this great promise and prophecy that God would again return to his temple. But it's always in this new, unique way that we see Jesus fulfilling these things." [00:21:59] (52 seconds)


"But this is Jesus' first entrance into his temple. But we know that this presentation is kind of a foreshadowing, right, because every child was presented to the Lord in the temple after eight days. It's a foreshadowing of baptism, right, where we not are presented necessarily in the temple in Jerusalem, but we become the temple of God, right, as Jesus takes that upon himself in this life. And we share in that through our baptism. We become a temple. We become a temple where God dwells. That is astounding when we think about it. I think our brains just can't grasp what that actually means, like that God desires to dwell in me, that we have a bunch of temples walking around this world, right, where God is present in our lives." [00:22:06] (48 seconds)


"So how do we begin to live knowing that we're a temple of God and to live that out every day? I think there's a few things that can really help us on this journey of just recognizing that God dwells in me. First thing I do is, because I'm not any different than any of you, even though I'm a priest, right, and all my stuff I do is pretty much focused on the Lord, sometimes I forget to invite him into my day, right? I pray every morning, but do I invite him in during the day, right? Does anybody do that? You know, you're like going through your day and you're like, I'm struggling with all these things. Why haven't I called on the Lord? Right? I do that. I do that. I do that." [00:24:13] (43 seconds)


"So what is it, you know, because maybe you're thinking, well, my weeks are pretty much the same, right? I get up, get the kids ready. Whatever it might be. I go to work. Then I come home. I'm exhausted. Yeah. Does anybody ever feel that kind of stuff? Right? All right. A few of you. Yeah. It happens, right? So how do I change how I experience that? How do I let the Lord show me what he is doing in my life? The first thing I think is to remember that because of our baptism, we all have the same end point. We all have the same thing that God is calling us to be. Does anybody have any idea what that is?" [00:28:32] (42 seconds)


"We're all called to be saints, right? In whatever way that is. We may not be canonized a saint like some people, like some of the saints throughout history, but to be in heaven with God forever is to be a saint, and that's what we're called to be. So that's going to be my first thing. It's like, okay, how can I live my day today to be more of a saint, to do those things on that journey? Well, the first thing we can do is just be a saint. We just recognize that God will meet us right where we are. We don't have to do great things to be a saint. We just have to do those things that he set before us this day, whether that be taking care of the family, or work, or play." [00:29:34] (41 seconds)


"Ask him everything. He wants to be part of every aspect of our life. Because within that call to be a saint, we get all the other calls of our life, whether it's to marriage or to consecrated saints. To single life or to priesthood or religious life. Right? Within that, we will discern all that God desires for us. Because it's just recognizing he desires to be in every aspect of our life. He wants to bring light in those places in our life that we experience darkness. He's not afraid of that. You know that darkness doesn't really exist, right? It's the absence of light. And so when light comes in, it has nothing else to do but be dispensed with. And so in those places in our heart where we're like, yeah, Father, I would love to do this, but I know myself." [00:34:59] (52 seconds)


"And I got this thing going on, and I'm just ashamed. I'm guilty. Whatever. Whatever all the lies are that pop up, Jesus is not afraid of that. He's not afraid of anything in our life. So we can invite him in. I'm like, okay, Jesus, well, you want to come into this part. It's a very messy room. Hasn't been cleaned in years, right? And Jesus is like, great, I'll come in. And he immediately begins to clean. He immediately brings light into that part of our life so that we continue on this journey. Because you know what happens when our life becomes more and more influenced by the light of Christ? We become lights to others. And every single person that you will ever meet desires Jesus, whether they know that or not. The deepest desires of their heart can only be fulfilled by him. And you become this great witness. This great light. This light that draws others to him. And you don't even have to say a word, right? You just begin to live your life as God calls you to." [00:38:04] (60 seconds)


"There's this beautiful guy. His name is Jan. And he was in Poland during the 1920s. He wanted to be a bookkeeper, right? But he failed at that. And then he desired to just follow his father as a tailor in the town of Krakow. And so there he was. He's being just a tailor, going about it. But he also was a great man of faith, going to daily mass and praying every day. Because he'd ask the priest, like, how do I do this? Right? He said, study. Pray. Do these things. And then the priest came to him a little later on, and he said, I have these young men that have no one to guide them. I need you to guide them. He's like, well, I don't know. I don't know how to do that. He's like, just teach them what you know, how to pray. Teach them about the faith. And so he began to lead this group of young men during that time. During his time into a deeper relationship with the Lord. And this guy, from that little group of people, came beautiful marriages and families. Also, came five priests. And one of those priests turned out to be Saint John Paul II. Right? This tailor, named Jan, who just shared his faith and was a light to these young men, became this great, beautiful witness that God worked in him. And he was able to bring about one of the greatest saints that we know in our time, who transformed the world." [00:43:03] (86 seconds)


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Transcript
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