ubi caritas, deus ibi est - 5th week tuesday

Today in our first reading Solomon the builder of the temple in Jerusalem prays in front of the altar dedicating the temple to God.  And in the presence of the whole community of Israelites he prayed to God stretching forth his hands towards heaven.

In this prayer Solomon speaks in wonder how God whom the heavens cannot contain chose to dwell among his people in the house which Solomon built. “Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?  If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!"  Yes, God dwells in the temple but he cannot be confined in the temple.  Yes, God dwells in heaven but he cannot be confined merely in heaven nor in the highest heavens as Solomon said.  Israel would err many times when its people became presumptuous in believing that regardless of what they do God will remain with them forever because God has built his house among them.

In the book of the prophet Micah for example, people sinned against God – the officials took bribes, the priests and the prophets are more concerned about money, and they thought that no evil shall come among them because they have with them the house of God.  But Micah said to them "because of you, Sion shall be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall be as a heap of stones."

God's presence will be withdrawn when we do not act justly, when we continue to live sinful lives, when we persist in our sinful ways and practices.  If we persist in doing so, one day we will realize that God is no longer there, he is no longer with us, he is no longer tangible in our lives.

So do not say, I have a scapular with me, so God is with me; I have a rosary with me, so God is with me;  I have the bible with me, I have a crucifix with me so God is with me.  No – God cannot be confined in these objects.  He will leave us if we do not act justly, if we do not live righteous and honest lives, if we do not do the good that we must do. 

And yet let us also take note that God and his holiness for that matter cannot be confined merely inside the church, or in holy pictures or in the altars of our homes.  God is present everywhere especially when we are doing what is right and just, especially when we doing charitable acts, act of kindness and compassion.  We sing for example on Holy Thursday the hymn, ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est – when charity and love is, there God is.

SO let us put this always in mind – the greatest and most beautiful temple we can build for God is living a good life.  Even if our churches are not decorated because flowers are so costly nowadays, decorate your souls with charity, furnish you heart with kindness, cleanse you minds of untruthfulness and dishonesty and God will be more honored.  That space in your heart will become a more worthy dwelling for God.