Fourth Thursday in Ordinary Time

O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple. Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth.

If we know, love, and serve God, then our souls become temples to God. He dwells within us and pours His Love and Mercy out upon us. It isn't always easy to upkeep our inner temples, but they need constant tending through prayer, charity, mortification, and acts of mercy. Without these actions, our temples would fall into disrepair and collapse. However, God gives us all the building blocks we need to build Him a great temple within our hearts. So, let us make use of all those graces, goods, and blessings He has given us and make a place of refuge for ourselves and all those whom we meet each day.

Do we treat ourselves, body, minds, and spirits, as living temples of the Lord? How can we build up our inner temples? What can we do to keep them from being weakened and destroyed?

O Lord, we ponder your mercy and hope to build up a temple for you within our hearts.

Amen.