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March 1, 2024“All Y’all Need Your Temple Cleansed!”
I remember a very “southern” preacher using this expression once, humorously saying that all Christians need to regularly repent of their sins and go to confession. He followed it up with “All y’all need Jesus. And so do I!” He was also reminding his congregation that the human soul is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul writes in 1Cor 6:19-20:
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? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
It is a Catholic dogma (truth of the highest importance) that God lives in your soul and has been there ever since your baptism. This is called the mystery of the indwelling.
As a faithful, participating member of St. Michael Catholic Church, you have the right to expect to come to mass in a church building which is beautiful, clean and orderly. If it is not, you have the right to be upset. God’s house should be clean and pure, out of respect for the holy God who dwells there. This same principle applies to our souls.
“Repentance” is not just remembering our sins, making a list and then beating our backs with the proverbial whip of guilt and shame. True repentance is not trying to make ourselves feel badly about our sins, but about a true, loving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When we really love someone, it hurts us to disappoint Him.
True enough, we repent for the sake of ourselves and the salvation of our souls also, but this should be secondary. At the end of the day…the end of our lives, we just want to hear the words from His mouth: “Well done good and faithful servant! Enter now into your glory.”
What is your motivation for repentance? If you feel a fear of death and hell, then your primary motivation is more likely the second. 1 John tells us that perfect love casts out all fear. If your primary motivation for repentance is your true knowledge of God, and love for Jesus, then fear does not much enter in. And your repentance will be more sincere and successful! This means, you will be less likely to continue in your sins.
Well done good and faithful servants! I see so many good and faithful servants of the Lord here at St. Michael’s. Your goodness and service of others inspires me. And the best path to hearing those words from the Master was recommended by that southern talking preacher: “All y’all need your temple cleansed!” All of us!
Our parish penance service for Lent will be March 12th at 5:30 p.m. I also hear confessions every Saturday at 5:00, or any other time you can catch me. Please be sure to get your temple cleansed this Lent, especially if you are a big fish. Definition of big fish: “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been 30 years since my last confession.”
We welcome Deacon Christopher Hoffman this weekend to our parish. Deacon Hoffman is a seminarian for the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, and I was his spiritual director at the seminary for the last three years. He will be visiting Tybee Island for a few days on spring break and giving our homily today. He will be ordained a priest this coming June 1st so please pray for him!
I will be in Brooklyn, NY this Monday through Friday for a priest retreat. Thank you to Fr. Jerry Ragan for covering our weekday masses.
Fr. Brett Brannen
Pastor
