When I do miss church, it's not necessarily because I don't want to go, but that it is "inconvenient" or I have things I would rather be doing. Whether that be homework that I put off all week, a movie on TV, or open gym at my school. All are rather pathetic excuses for missing church and I am ashamed.
So when I laid down for bed last night, I set my alarm for 7:45, which gave me enough time to get ready for church and pack a bag with things for work and softball as I would be unable to get back home. So when my alarm goes off, I of course hit the snooze. Three times. So at 8:10ish I was so close to resetting my alarm so I would have enough time to make it to work on time, but something in the back of my mind told me to get out of bed and get my butt to church. And I am so glad I did.
I do my best when I am at church to pay attention. I try to listen intently to the readings, consider the homily, and make sense of what is actually going on in the mass, but I usually lose that battle to sagging eyes and a wandering mind halfway through.
The first reading today was 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19. The reading was about Samuel and his first calling to the Lord. When he is continually called in his sleep by the Lord, he runs to Eli and says "Here I am, as you called me." And Eli sends him back to bed saying he did not call him. Finally, Eli realizes Samuel is being called by the Lord and tells Eli that the next time he is called he is to reply "Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening."
During the homily the priest talked about his experience with being called to the church and took the congregation through his journey. He urged us to accept our calling to the Lord, but when we do we must be committed to it. This is not to say that we can't follow the Lord and grow in our faith if we are not totally committed. But he continually put off joining the priesthood and went to college for two years and when he finally did, he knew exactly what he was meant to do. I think we are all called, and I think some of us don't listen. I am guilty of both.
The second reading really caught my attention. 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20.
As I listened to this reading, I was instantly hooked.
Part of the passage reads
18 Keep away from sexual immorality. All other sins that people may commit are done outside the body; but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
19 Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God?
20 You are not your own property, then; you have been bought at a price. So use your body for theglory of God.
This passage constantly reminds us that in addition to immorality being a sin against your own body, it also points out that your body is a member of Christ's body, so by sinning against your body, you are sinning against Christ's body as well. If you treat your body as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" you are glorifying God.
Starting this semester, I am going to make my body the most glorious, magnificent temple and Holy Spirit could want to dwell in. By doing this I am going to glorify God the best way I know how to. I am going to live for him. I am going to play for him. Every day I step out on that field. Every time I swing a bat, throw a ball, or call a pitch. I know he blessed me with my talents and he could take them away from me in a second. I am truly blessed, not just by my athleticism, but with an amazing family, an abundance of friends, and endless opportunities given to me.
With that, I am going to bed.
Peace, Love, and Jesus <3
