August 26
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeBirth Monday after Trinity
Walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.
INASMUCH as each one of us is a living temple of God, His stamp should be on your countenance, in your eyes, in your words, in every part of your outward bearing. The outward bearing of a Christian should leave no doubt on those around that God dwells within him; his calm, recollected manner should betoken that he remembers Whose temple he is. Who that keeps this ever before him, that reflects how God is in him and around him, but will strive earnestly that no word or action or look be unworthy that presence. Remembering, then, that we are the sanctuary and altar of God, anointed with the precious Blood, one with the Body of our Lord, does it not behove us to maintain a deep reverence for the body He has given us, to cultivate silence and recollection, and a spirit of perpetual adoration? Yet how continually we profane it both outwardly and inwardly, by dissipated thoughts, impurity, wandering glances, indulged appetites, curious ears, ease-loving members. Is this consistent with the belief that we are living temples of the Holy Ghost, an altar whereon Jesus lies? Too often the inner heart is like that Jewish temple which our Lord said was turned into a den of thieves. Be it yours to drive out all that offends, and to attain that spirit of purity and adoration which alone is worthy of God's holy presence, and to show forth in all you do and say that you are filled with His Majesty, consecrated to Him, partaking of His Divine nature, and so walking in newness of life.
Ye who your Lord's commission bear,
His way of mercy to prepare,
Angels He calls ye : be your strife
To lead on earth an Angel's life.