Daily Gospel Reflection for November 24, 2015

Today's Gospel: Luke 21:5-11

Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

In 1988, when I was a Nashville Dominican, I was blessed to meet Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Here was a woman not quite five feet tall, her eyes sunken, wrinkles impressed upon her face. Yet I have never met someone whose statute was more magnanimous, whose eyes shined brighter, or whose face so unmistakably radiated Jesus. Today’s Gospel reading brings to mind my encounter with Mother Teresa.

The people were admiring the Temple, adorned with costly stones and votive offerings. Jesus, however, points out that its beauty is fleeting and its apparent indestructibility, an illusion.

God does not see things as the world does. The latest fad diet and wrinkle cream does not keep us beautiful. Yoga and daily five-mile runs do not make us indestructible. It is grace that makes us truly beautiful and our souls indestructible.

If you don’t believe me, get a holy card of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, look at her adorned with no costly stones, only a simple blue trimmed habit, and tell me if she is not beautiful.

God did that! He took a kind, little lady and made her a radiant, enduring temple of His Spirit. He can do that for us, too!

Ponder:

It is important to take care of God’s gift of our body, but do I put more emphasis on that than I do my soul? Do I make sure my soul gets the nutrition and exercise it needs, too?

Pray:

Lord, You have made me a temple of Your Spirit; Your grace dwells in my soul. Grant that I may never do anything to mar the beauty of my soul. I ask this through Your mercy in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Kelly Guest