God’s Building – Do We Have Access?

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For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

Have you ever thought of yourself as God’s Building?

When I think of a building where God may be, I instantly think of a Church – an actual structure of brick and wood.

But, as we all know, Scripture can use words to represent a simple idea in a whole different way.

We are told that we are the temple of the living God. That God dwells in us -in our very hearts.

19 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?

20 For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Finding Jesus In The Temple – Got Me Thinking

I always begin my morning prayer with the rosary. And today being Monday, we pray the joyful mysteries.

It was during the fifth joyful mystery, the finding of Jesus in the temple, that I was moved to consider just how this can relate to us today and bring a deeper meaning to the fact that now we are God’s temple.

Mary and Joseph were searching frantically for Jesus. He was only 12-years-old, probably had never been separated from his parents for that long before. They were traveling and he had been missing for three days. It was when they returned to Jerusalem that they found him in the Temple.

He was listening to and teaching the elders of the church. His parents asked Him why he had done this to them? How could he cause them so much anxiety and worry? They had been looking for him for three days. He responds with…

Luke 2:49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

As I thought about that one phrase response I began to reflect on the truth we are told in scripture. We can find Jesus in his Father’s house.

…His Father’s house?

What can this say to us today in 2020? At this moment in history, here in America, where we may not be able to freely enter God’s house, his church building, in our own neighborhood.

Does this mean that since the door is locked and restrictions are in place we have no open access to Jesus or God’s Building?

God’s Building – Our Responsibility

Jesus told us in the Gospel that he would one day be crucified. He would then rise from the tomb. He would then be lifted up and seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. We have heard this, read it, and known this to be true.

Even though he was going to leave us physically, he promised he would then send the Holy Spirit to us to remain, dwell, and live within us.

We are also told that the foundation of our lives and the Church is Jesus himself. And we are to carefully and faithfully build our lives upon him, the foundation, and into God’s building – His Church – His Father’s House.

“Did you not know that I would be in my Father’s House?”

We are to become the building of God. Each one of us joined together as brothers and sisters, our lives part of one body, all essential – we are to become the very place, the building, that God inhabits.

We don’t have to go looking in some tall building or physical temple. We don’t have to return to Jerusalem. God is right here, the Holy Spirit lives and dwells in us.

In this time when restrictions are hindering the Church gathering and coming together in community, I am desperately missing the Eucharist. We have no idea how long God will permit this to continue.

But, this reality of being God’s building is comforting to me and should be for you as well! Especially now when we are kept from freely & frequently visiting our Church building.

How Are We Co-Workers?

Yes, the Church is here. But, are we really part of it? Are we working with God?

Do we truly want to be a dwelling place, a house where God wants to dwell and live?

Am I paying attention and really living and acting like I am a place welcoming to the Holy Spirit and part of something bigger than myself? Am I truly part of God’s building?

“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 16:18

In this scripture passage, Jesus tells us that the netherworld, hell, will not overtake it His Church. The Church, God’s people, his bride, will always be. But it is up to each one of us to make a decision to be a member & part of it. It won’t just instantly happen – we have a decision to make and a responsibility to live it each day.

Are we as brothers and sisters taking it as seriously as we should be by living each day like we are building up the Church and preparing our souls for heaven?

The Time Is Now

Today it is more urgent than ever that we really make a decision on what we want our hearts and souls to be part of. Are our minds on eternity or are they caught up in what is going on in the world around us?

If you take even a few minutes and look or listen to the news you can see how far off track humanity has become and how desperately we all need to turn our hearts, our minds, and lives back to God.

A building made up of by hearts that are lukewarm cannot withstand focused riots, evil, or the turmoil within. If it has been built with weak souls and divided hearts within itself it will have a hard time standing strong.

The weakened parts & hearts will begin to fall away and be consumed by the evil around them.

God’s building should be stronger than that.

If we really are co-workers and part of God’s building we will remain standing in the end. But, not without daily intention. If we strive to love God above all, to live in His presence, live humbly before him, work to reach every soul, share the Truth of the Gospel, protect all life and uphold the dignity of it, and praying for our world, then as part of the building we will remain strong and be a place where the Holy Spirit is happy to dwell.

What is the field?

A field is a patch of ground that is fertile so as to nourish, protect, and help grow the seeds that have been placed in its soil. The seeds then mature and become what they were intended to be and then offered and shared with others.

Like the field, a family is a place where life is first recognized, gently grown, and then lovingly passed on to nourish and feed others, so are we to nourish and pass on the gift of faith that God has planted within us. This is so necessary, especially today.

These seeds were not given to us to keep to ourselves, but to pass on to those who God intended them to be shared with. First within our family, then our friends, our enemies, strangers, and yes, the whole world.

Now, of course, we absolutely cannot go out and share the gospel and give food to the whole world all by ourselves. But, we do have a responsibility to work to change the world in our capability and the seeds we have been given.

How??

When Saint Mother Theresa was asked this question she stated that “if you want to change the world – go home and love your family”. Yes – Simply stated, yet very hard to do!

But the truth is it is where it all begins. We till our soul, weed out bad habits and behavior, grow in endurance, and learn to live in & share the love of God. Family is the ground where God’s field is sown.

God’s Co-workers, God’s Field & God’s Building

For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

Let’s pull this little piece of scripture all together.

So, We are God’s field. He chose to plant his Faith, Hope, and Love in the human soul. These three things that always remain are here – now. Even if right now in the world it is difficult to see and very hard to recognize.

We are responsible to nourish, grow, harvest, and then share the faith He has so lovingly planted within us. We are called to share it today, now, this very moment.

As God’s Co-workers – we work with God and use our earthly body, our daily habits, and prayerful intentions to pass and spread the Faith, Hope, and Love he planted within us. We are messengers, guards & construction workers working together with Him to gather, reinforce, and build-up His Church. And now is the time to harder than ever before.

We are co-workers, His field, and God’s Building.

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