Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

If we seek to adorn our lives with costly things or make a show of our faith without any real substance, then in the end we will be thrown down. The weight of our earthly possessions will weigh us down and keep our thoughts from rising up to the heavens. If our prayers and actions are misguided and selfish rather than holy and sacrificial, then we shall have nothing to stand on when we come before God. Instead, our lives should be spent building up a treasure house of spiritual rewards built upon charitable and merciful words and works. Without these we are nothing, but with them we show ourselves to be good and faithful servants of God and His children.

Are we adorning our lives with worldly things or heavenly ones? Are our prayers and works meant to exult ourselves or God? How can we build the temples of our souls upon the firm foundations of faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, tear down the house of my pride and build me up into a temple of humility.

Amen.