My dear brothers and sisters, while it is important to be god–honoring in every aspect of our earthly life, God’s purpose for creating us so fearfully and wonderfully goes even beyond this earthly dimension.

 

God had eternity in mind when he designed our bodies!!

 

The eternal dimension of our physical bodies

 

On the day of Resurrection, God will transform our weak, fragile, physical bodies in to spiritual bodies. Philiphians 3:21 -He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

 

CCC 1016 In the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives forever, so all of us will rise at the last day.

 

However to merit eternal life we need to fulfill God’s purpose for our bodies. We will be held accountable for our actions. 2 Corinthians 5:10- For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. In his letter to the Galatians and Corinthians, St. Paul warns of several bodily sins that can jeopardize God’s divine plan for our bodies (Refer Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

 

My dear brothers and sisters God has bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). The ransom that he paid was the precious, innocent blood of His son, the unblemished lamb. The ransom that he paid was Christ’s excruciating, sacrificial death on the cross that took away our sins. Let us not take such an invaluable gift, obtained at an inestimable cost for granted or squander it away by stubbornly persisting in a profligate or a callous lifestyle. Instead let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).

 

By virtue of our Baptism, we are now God’s adopted children and co-heirs with Christ of the eternal promises (Romans 8:17).

 

As temples of the Holy Spirit(1 Corinthians 6: 19-20) our bodies must become instruments of glorifying God. 1 Corinthians 10:31-so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

 

As members of the mystical body of Christ  (1 Corinthians 12:27) we must use our God-given talents and spiritual gifts (exercised through our bodies) to grow God’s kingdom on earth. Ephesians 2:10- for we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

 

As new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) we must nourish and strengthen ourselves by actively participating in the Christian sacraments. CCC 1123-The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and finally to give worship to God. 

 

Aware of this supreme calling, my dear brothers and sisters may we live conscientious and worthy lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. May we be good stewards of our bodies and merit the eternal destiny which God had in mind when he created us so fearfully and wonderfully with love.

 

(Concluded)

 

 

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