In the first reading today from Romans 6, St. Paul talks about presenting our bodies for sanctification. We’ll talk more on that in a moment. In the Gospel passage from Luke 12, Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” He then goes on to talk about how He would become a source of division, even among family members. How true!
To sanctify means to make holy. We see the word “sanctification” twice in today’s first reading. St. Paul talks about presenting the parts of our bodies “as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.” He goes on to say, “But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life.” In other words, our bodies were made for holiness, not for sin. And when we allow God to use them for holy purposes, eternal life is our reward.
It can be very hard for us to think of our bodies as holy, or being used for holy purposes. Our society tells us that we have to have hard bodies, and that it is okay to objectify others. To use their bodies, and ours, for purely pleasurable means. So, how do we use our bodies for sanctification? When we offer someone a comforting hug or touch; when we offer up our physical pain for a greater good; when we give a stranger a freindly smile of encouragement; when we deny ourselves some purely carnal pleasure…these are just a few times when we sanctify our bodies; use them for a holy purpose. Can you think of ways to sanctify your body today?
Father, help us to use our bodies for holy purposes today. Show us how we can glorify You with our bodies. Amen.
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