who I came to know for much
more than this label.
The temple Jesus refers
to in the gospel does not just
refer to the physical place, but
also to Jesus’ own body. This
is a surprising comparison,
but in many ways it makes a
lot of sense: the temple is the
meeting place of God and human
beings, just as Jesus is 100%
divine and 100% mortal. We
considered that if Jesus’ physical
body is a temple, our own
bodies can be temples as well.
Accordingly, all kinds of bodies
can be temples
—
even those
outside of what we consider
“normal.” My experience in Haiti
with the amazing kids at St.
Vincent’s certainly highlighted
the importance of extending
acceptance towards all people
and their bodies, disabled or not.
The residents’ positivity, wit, and
caring demonstrated in its purest
form that one’s body is a place
We’re going back
to St. Vincent’s!
Join us June 1 - 4 to make
new friends and discover
God at work in new ways in
your life. All are welcome;
parishioners with experience
in education are especially
invited to consider getting
involved in this trip. Contact
Susana Ferrer to learn more.
8 · SPRING 2018
where God is. Consequently,
we are forced to evaluate the
cultural norms that attempt to
dictate what “beautiful” means.
In the world of social media,
it is so easy for teenagers like
me to become involved in the
fascination with “perfect,” that it
is easy to forget that along with
showing love towards everyone
else and their temples, we must
appreciate our own as well.
For me, this trip was all
about learning to understand the
differences of others — which may
be shocking or uncomfortable
at first — in order to form bonds
with others away from home.
Coming together as a parish on
this trip to Haiti in an effort to
make God’s vast world smaller
and more united, despite cultural
differences, is something I look
forward to every year. Not only
am I helping and giving my
assistance to others, but the
people I spend time with each
year teach me so much about
what it means to be a Christian.
This trip is not “charity;” rather
a continuing, mutual friendship
among God’s creations.
My challenge to you is to
consider: What needs driving
out from your heart? What
social values and practices do
we accept that interfere with
our relationship with God? What
religious and moral duties do we
have that still exist in our hearts,
but have been neglected by our
attitudes and actions? Have you
ever thought about your physical
body as a temple? Have you
thought about other bodies as
a temple? Where has been a
temple for you?
This essay is excerpted from
a sermon Caroline delivered
on March 4, 2018. Visit
stjames.org/sermons to
listen to the full recording.