The Sacred Space of Encounter
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
Grace Prayed For
Based on this passage, we are prompted to pray for the grace of reverence:
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, grant me the grace to truly reverence my body as Your holy temple. Help me to see every encounter as a sacred event taking place within Your presence, so that in all my sharing and receiving, I may forget that I am “my own” and truly glorify You in my body.”
Reflection
This passage from Romans is the very heart of your prayer. It addresses the one great obstacle that keepsThis passage is a powerful call to re-evaluate how we see ourselves and, consequently, how we engage with the world. Our theme is “Intimacy Through the Holy Spirit,” and Paul tells us this intimacy is not abstract; it is an indwelling. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, has made a home, a “temple,” in our very flesh.
This changes everything. If my body is a holy place, a sanctuary where God Himself dwells, then every single encounter I have is a sacred event. My prayer—”to share and receive in all of my encounters”—is no longer just a desire; it becomes the very function of this temple.
When I receive another person, I am not just listening with my ears or seeing with my eyes. I am, in a very real way, welcoming them into this sacred space where the Spirit resides. The way I listen, the way I offer my full attention, the way I see them without judgment—this is an act of hospitality, not just from me, but from the Spirit within me. I am receiving Christ in them into the temple of theSpirit in me.
And when I share, I am reminded that “you are not your own.” I was “purchased at a price.” This is the ultimate liberation. My words, my actions, my touch, my very presence are not just my own to give. They belong to the God who redeemed me. Therefore, when I share a kind word, offer a comforting hand, or speak a difficult truth in love, I am not acting alone. I am allowing the Holy Spirit to minister through His own temple.
The mission, then, is to “glorify God in your body.” This is our Baptismal call in its most practical form. We glorify God in our bodies when we use them as instruments of Trinitarian love. Every encounter is a chance to let the indwelling Spirit shine forth, to be the physical, tangible presence of God’s love, sharing and receiving, and in doing so, sanctifying the world one encounter at a time.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Evangelizing in Daily Life
This passage shows that our primary tool for evangelization is our physical presence, which has been made holy by Jesus’s love.
- Evangelize by How You “Receive” (Listen): Jesus “purchased” you; that’s how much He loves you and values you. His love has impacted your life by giving you infinite worth. You can evangelize by sharing that gift. When someone is speaking, receive them with your whole body. Put down your phone, turn to face them, and let your eyes and posture say, “You are the most important person in the world right now.” This physical act of honoring them reflects the value Jesus has placed on you. It’s a powerful, non-verbal proclamation of the Gospel.
- Evangelize by How You “Share” (Act): Jesus loved us so much He gave His body for us, and in return, gave us His Spirit. How has this impacted your life? It means you are never alone and always have love to give. You can partner with Jesus in restoring creation by using your body for service. Help a neighbor carry their groceries. Offer a comforting and appropriate touch (a hand on the shoulder, a hug) to someone who is grieving. Use your hands to care for the earth, to clean up a park, or to cook a meal for someone. These are all ways to “glorify God in your body” and show His restorative love to the world.
- Evangelize with Your “Why”: When someone notices this sacred quality in your presence—your peace, your attentiveness—and asks why you are different, you have the opening. You can say, “Jesus has impacted my life by showing me that God doesn’t just love me from far away; He lives in me. It’s taught me that every person I meet is a holy encounter, and I try to honor that.”
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post