A zeal that never dies

Tuesday in the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle I

Rm 12, 5-16; Lk 14, 15-24.

Sometimes I wonder what would a letter from St Paul sound like if he were to send us a letter today - or perhaps an email or a blogpost - as he used to do to the Christian communities of his day? Well, we do not need to worry about being very imaginative because the letters that Paul has written to the first Christians are as fresh and as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago. The letters of St Paul, perhaps more like the handwritten letters yesteryear than today's electronic messages, are meant to be read and meditated on over and over again, because after all they are the words of God, indeed, his love letter towards us, addressed to each one of us personally.

In the chapter that we read today, Paul speaks to the community of Christians in Rome about a reality that we share with them: the temple, which signified the presence of God among them, lost its importance. Now there was a new temple, the new Christian community. The presence of God was no longer to be restricted to the building but rather, the presence of God was assured by the community who had received the Spirit of the Risen Christ of Pentecost. Again, this is not something that has happened two thousand years ago but something that has been happening since then until now. You and I, we are the temple of God.

Sometimes this is hard to believe, because we see ourselves as so limited, so sinful what we find it hard to believe. However it also makes us aware of the responsibility that this places on us. And this is what St Paul is trying to make the Romans - and us - aware of. The short sentences that he uses, almost simply making a list, shows us the enthusiasm with which he writes, jumping quickly from one theme to another.

First, Paul reminds us that we all have different gifts. What is my particular gift? What makes me unique? I remember watching a short feature of a very old church in Italy that suffered severe damage due to an earthquake. Since it was a very old church, the stones had an irregular shape. Those working on the restoration project had to number each stone to be able to eventually return it to its original place. The same thing goes on with us. Each one of us has a particular gift or gifts which God has given to build the community and on which depends God's presence among us. What a great responsibility!

Then he goes on to speak about love, undoubtedly one of Paul's favourite themes. But there right in the middle of his list of what love requires of us, he says, "Do not grow slack in zeal." Perhaps this is something that we must continue returning to every day, every moment of the day, making sure that the flame of our zeal is still blazing within us. As long as there is this zeal, things will go well. We are determined to face any difficulty, no amount of discouragement can get at us. However, as soon as our zeal start slackening, then everything we have said so far about having the gifts to build the presence of God among us and the love that is required, these two are very easily lost.

Our zeal can slacken, true, we are only human after all. However it will not go out completely. Sometimes, a the fire in the fireplace or barbecue might look as though it has died. One you move the coal with a stick, they will start glowing bright red again!

Heavenly Father, we ask you to fill us with your Spirit, kindle in us that zeal for you and may we always tend the gifts you have given us so that we may be your living temple, your presence here on earth. Amen.