Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
Who may abide upon your holy hill?
(Psalm 15:1)
"We recognize that we are the true and living temple of God. God dwells...above all in the soul which has been made according to the image of God and was formed by the hand of the Creator....Christians who are chaste, humble, temperate and kind...observe peace and charity, and do not give false testimony--in such men the temple of Christ is kept intact, and Christ is known to dwell in them....Those who lead a wicked life and observe neither chastity nor justice, receiving 'bribes against the innocent' (Psalm 15:5) will have to endure eternal punishments."--St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon #229, "On the Blessing of a Church.''
St. Caesarius was a wise pastor. Lest you lose heart, he goes on to say, "For this reason, brethren, with God's help let us avoid serious sin. As for the small sins of which we cannot be free, resist them by daily almsgiving and redeem them by continuous prayer." There's always hope.
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