Faith Fall
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Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? —Matthew 23:17 NLT
I did not grow up in a tradition that observes Lent. However in recent years, I have found the Lenten season to be a precious time of preparation and self-examination leading up to the joyous celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
Whether we observe Lent or not, it’s important to abstain from taking a lofty view—looking down on those who live out their pre-Easter season in ways different from our own.
It is best to be childlike, the least and lowest, aware of our own faults and how much we need to learn. From that place of meekness, we can respond to the Holy Spirit in a golden way within our human “temple” and gaze out upon God’s handiwork—both within ourselves and in others.
Prayer
Lord, I am a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be childlike and humble especially in this season. Refine me like gold as I live for You each day.
Quote
“The Lord asks only two things of us: love of His Majesty and love of our neighbor. These, if kept with perfection, carry with them everything else. Meekness is the garment of both.”
—St. Teresa of Avila, Way of Perfection, ch. 4
Thought
Whether we are childlike in size or immature in spirit through our failings, we can expect growth as long as we stay turned towards Christ and bring those faults to Him.
~ See the original photos that accompany this devotion and where they were taken on my FB page!
~ "Posts from the Past!" Scroll down on this devotion at lisalivezey.com/olivetree to find three past blog posts related to today's theme.
Lisa Livezey writes from Pennsylvania where she found her way to Rome via the Anglican Ordinariate. She is the author of Minding Mom: A Caregiver's Devotional Story (En Route Publishing) and contributes to the National Catholic Register, Guideposts books and devotionals, and more. Her weekly photo devotions found at lisalivezey.com/olivetree are viewed worldwide and utilized by Visio Divina prayer groups. Lisa is a wife, mom, and grandma, volunteers in church and civic settings, and serves on the executive team at Heart of the Father Ministries. She credits her husband with giving her name alliteration and sometimes on summer weekends can be spotted sailing the Chesapeake Bay alongside her spouse.
