When my wife sits in her prayer chair to pray, her cat almost always stops what it is doing and joins her. Animals love to be in the presence of God.
Today’s Psalm (84:3-5,10-11) talks about the special presence of God in the Jerusalem temple.
“My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cray out for the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young—your altar, O Lord of hosts…”
There was a specialness about the Jerusalem temple; it was rich in the merciful presence of God. When the Psalmist was away from there, all he could think about was returning to this haven of God’s love. Being in the courts of God was as important to him as water is to an extremely thirsty person. Moreover, even the birds were drawn to the heart of the temple to build nests under the altar!
“I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
Sometimes I wonder how Adam and Eve felt the day after they sinned. What did they miss most—was it eating the fresh fruit, petting the animals, or the beauty of the garden? I’m sure it was that special presence of God that they enjoyed in their pre-sin condition. They must have longed and pined to have even a moment feeling close to God again.
God did not abandon Adam. He continued to provide special moments in which he blessed him with his presence. And, later, when he founded the people of Israel, he established a permanent place of presence—the temple of Jerusalem. Tasting God’s presence there, reminded the people of their true source of happiness and peace.
Though, in time, the Jerusalem temple was destroyed, God did not give up on his plan to be present among his people. When Jesus came to earth, he became the living presence of God among us. Wherever Jesus went he brought the fullness of God’s presence with him. It was no longer necessary to go to Jerusalem to experience the thrill of absorbing the flow of God’s love. Being with Jesus brought people into that “Eden experience” that Adam lost. And, in the presence of Jesus, the kingdom of darkness began to collapse—people were forgiven sins, healed, and had demons driven out of them.
Jesus continues to be the living temple of God on earth, but in a different way. He now lives on earth inside his Body, the Church. Wherever two or more gather in Jesus’ name, a new temple forms—God is richly among us.
I remember watching my two-year-old granddaughter one day. She starting crying, and nothing seemed to appease her. I check her diaper, offered her food, picked her up and hugged her—still, the crying persisted. Then, it occurred to me that she might be missing her mother. I was right. When I said, “I bet you miss your mommy, don’t you,” she nodded, cried harder and exhausted her supply of tears.
Sometimes, we have a hard-to-identify aching in our souls. It may be the Adam in us missing being with his God. When we check everything else out, we wonder whether we are yearning and pining for the courts of God. This is part of our fundamental grief as sinful humans.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!” (Response to Psalm).
