The 'new temple' of God's presence in the world

[Weedy]

The 'new temple' of God's presence in the world

Jesus is the new temple (John 1:14; 2:19-22). In the Old Testament God
manifested his presence in the "pillar of cloud" by day and the
"pillar of fire" by night as he led them through the wilderness. God's
glory visibly came to dwell over the ark and the tabernacle (Exodus
40:34-38). When the first temple was built in Jerusalem God's glory
came to rest there (1 Kings 8). After the first temple was destroyed,
Ezekiel saw God's glory leave it (Ezekiel 10). But God promised one
day to fill it with even greater glory (Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 8-9).
That promise is fulfilled when the "King of Glory" himself comes to
his temple (Psalm 24:7-10; Malachi 3:1). Through Jesus' coming in the
flesh and through his saving death, resurrection, and ascension we are
made living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Ask
the Lord to renew your faith in the indwelling presence of his Spirit
within you. And give him thanks and praise for coming to make his home
with you.

<<>><<>><<>>
February 1st – St. Severus of Ravenna, Bishop

Died c. 348.
Severus was a poor weaver of Ravenna, Italy, who never dreamed that
God would one day call him from his weaver's loom to rule a diocese,
but God has strange ways of calling His servants and sometimes lays
His hand upon them in the least likely places: from the plough and the
bench have come some of the greatest of His apostles.

So it happened that when the bishopric of Ravenna fell vacant in 283
and the cathedral was filled with those who had gathered to elect a
new bishop, Severus said to his wife, Vincentia, that he would visit
the minister and see what was going on. She replied that he had much
better remain at home and not show himself in his working clothes
among the nobles and well-dressed citizens. "What harm is there in my
going?" he asked. "Why, you have work to do here," she answered,
"instead of gadding about sightseeing." When he persisted, she said,
"Go, and may you come back with a good box on your ear," and added
sarcastically: "Go, then, and get elected bishop."

Severus, accustomed to her sharp tongue, set out and, entering the
crowded cathedral, stood at the back, ashamed of his working clothes
covered with flocks of wool. When, in the course of the service, the
power of the Holy Spirit was invoked in prayer, there appeared in the
cathedral a white dove that attracted the attention of the assembly,
and which after flying around fluttered at the ear of the poor
spinner. He beat it off, but it returned and finally came to rest upon
his shoulder. Every eye was now turned in his direction, and the
people, regarding it as a heavenly sign, with one accord chose him to
be their bishop.

Vincentia was still at home, and when a neighbor came running,
breathless, to her door with the news, she laughed and would not
believe it. "What a tale," she said, "that a man who tosses a shuttle
should be made a prelate!" But when another came with the same story,
and yet another, and a crowd gathered at her door, and she found it
was true, she was speechless.

Thus, it came to pass that Severus the weaver became bishop of Ravenna
and who can doubt that he was a good weaver, well respected for his
work and character, and that he was chosen not only because of a good
omen but also for his own fine qualities. For these he was chosen to
accompany the papal legate to the synod of Sardica in 344.

He made a good bishop, and when at last he came to die, he said his
last Mass before all the people, then quietly dismissed them with his
blessing. When all had departed save a single boy who served at the
altar, he bade the boy close the doors, and clothing himself in his
episcopal robes, went to the tomb of his wife and daughter, who had
died before him. There with the help of the boy he raised the stone,
and descending into the grave, laid himself down, and after a prayer
closed his eyes and fell asleep. After his death he was canonized a
saint, and is usually portrayed in his bishop's robes and with a
weaver's shuttle (Benedictines, Gill).

It may be that the dove was a common phenomenon, or that it was simply
a pious addition to the story of unlikely bishops, but it occurs in
several stories.

In art, St. Severus is a bishop weaving. He may have a loom and
weaver's tools and, possibly, a dove on his shoulder (Roeder). He is
the patron of glove makers, hatters, and weavers (Roeder).


Saint Quote:
It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to
man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell.
If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity”.
--Saint Albert the Great

Bible Quote:
Labor as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (II Tim. 2:3)


<><><><>
On the Holy Trinity

There is one God, the Father of the living Word, who is His subsistent
Wisdom and Power and Eternal Image: perfect Begetter of the perfect
Begotten, Father of the only-begotten Son.

There is one Lord, Only of the Only, God of God, Image and Likeness of
Deity, Efficient Word, Wisdom comprehensive of the constitution of all
things, and Power formative of the whole creation, true Son of true
Father, Invisible of Invisible, and Incorruptible of Incorruptible,
and Immortal of Immortal and Eternal of Eternal.

And there is One Holy Spirit, having His subsistence from God, and
being made manifest by the Son, to wit to men: Image of the Son,
Perfect Image of the Perfect; Life, the Cause of the living; Holy
Fount; Sanctity, the Supplier, or Leader, of Sanctification; in whom
is manifested God the Father, who is above all and in all, and God the
Son, who is through all.

There is a perfect Trinity, in glory and eternity and sovereignty,
neither divided nor estranged. Wherefore there is nothing either
created or in servitude in the Trinity; nor anything superinduced, as
if at some former period it was non-existent, and at some later period
it was introduced. And thus neither was the Son ever wanting to the
Father, nor the Spirit to the Son; but without variation and without
change, the same Trinity abideth ever.