Holy Prophet Joel. Holy Martyr Varus (307). Our Venerable Father John of Rila (946).
2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Luke 7:1-10.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Our bodies, brothers and sisters, are not “done away with” when we die.
I remember receiving a card after a funeral which said something along the lines of God needing another angel in heaven. Although I appreciated the sympathies very much, the idea behind the card, namely, that we lose our bodies and become pure spirits, is simply false and actually provide an anti-gospel. Jesus saved the world with and through His body. Through our bodies we feed the poor and preach the good new of Christ.
St. Paul recognizes that his physical body is deteriorating as he strives hard to complete his missionary work. He looks forward to the Kingdom, which his labours on earth are helping to build. He believes that his deteriorating body will be restored and perfected in his future life with God.
Take some time today to meditate on how you view your own body. Do you recognize your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you respect the gift the Lord has given you in your bodily health and see there the possibility of serving Him? Do you recognize the connection between receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist and His bodily miracles and Resurrection?