On the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Matthew Howell uses the epistle (2 Cor. 6:16-18; 7:1) to ask the question: Are we living as temples of God or are we amusement parks oriented at selfish pleasure? He then uses the Gospel reading for the third Sunday of Luke (Luke 7:11-16) to discuss our Lord’s life-giving Body and Blood and how important it is to prepare to receive it as much as possible.
Editor’s Note: In the evening, after this homily was delivered, this article was posted on a satirical news site. Fr. Matthew thinks that it proves his point in a humorous way: https://babylonbee.com/news/thousands-of-religious-zealots-gather-for-sunday-worship
2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Luke 7:11-16
At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!