Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
Jn 2:13-22

This pilgrim was sick last week and unable to put forth an entry… now to the readings of November 9th.

A few weeks ago I was part of a wonderful conversation being shared by a young girl in 6th grade and her mom. I had been talking about my strong belief in my guardian angel and then relayed the following story to them. When I was little my younger sister and I would make room for our guardian angels in our shared single bed, the empty space between us gave more room to our angels than either of us were using. As I told them about this night time practice they told me this story.

Faith’s mother would ask her young children each night, “How full is your love tank tonight?” Practically every night there was a request by her children for some loving to fill up their love tanks. Faith commented on how much that practice meant to her and seemed to indicate that she missed the practice, at which point, her mom leaned over and gave her a hug and kiss.

The readings for November 9th are all about the temple of God. We move from the first reading which focuses on the architectural specifics and purposes to the second reading which focuses on the human person being the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. In the gospel, we hear about Jesus finding the temple of God being used as a market place and he responds with “righteous anger.”

As I listened to Faith and her mom talk about their nightly practice around the “love tank,” I thought about the ancient practice of the Examine. The nightly practice of reviewing one’s day to see how well I was able to allow my attitudes and actions reflect God’s call to be loving and forgiving. This practice is done as a way to see in essence how our “love tank” was able to respond to all that we encounter in a day; and then our prayer moves to a point where we ask for that which will fill the tank up for the coming day.

The readings from November 9th invite us to remember that we are vessels of God’s light, love, and forgiveness. As I allow myself to own that reality and potential, I find myself even more aware of my need to make sure that my “love tank” is full. Like Faith I look to those with whom I share daily life and work, be it close geographically or in my heart connection, to help me with that need. However, I also need to turn to the One whose temple I am to be filled with the grace that carries highest octane of love.

This coming week may I allow the grace of love, forgiveness and possibility to fill my love tank; thereby making space for the bigness of God to be the river that flows through me.