"The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and all those who dwell in it."

Psalm 24:1

Are we living on the physical or metaphysical level? Living a "life without God" results living based on the physical level. How so we see that in our society? Here are a couple of examples. We have all heard of the homicides that have occurred over sporting events, even little kids baseball games. Some adult gets upset over something in the game and they end up taking the life of another person. The physical reaction is given into and results in destruction. How about pornography? Living on the level of physical pleasure, lust rules and what can be most sacred becomes most animalistic and injurious.

Metaphysical means "beyond the physical" (meta- beyond). It is looking to the Holy Spirit; that which is unseen. The Spirit leads us from harming ourselves and others into the fullness of truth and life. It directs us on how to use our bodies so that we may flourish now and forever.

The psalmist declares that you and I and all the earth in its fullness belong to the Lord. When we live a "life without God" we deny the truth that we belong to God and run our lives according to our own dictates. When we live life from that purely physical level we see thing happening like murders over meaningless sporting events or the destruction that pornography brings to all. The physical drives the metaphysical/spiritual into the ground. Disaster ensues and the flourishing we are made for cannot happen.

If, in contrast, we let the spiritual direct the physical/our bodies, then goodness and beauty can flourish. When the Spirit is leading sports can be good, healthy and full of growth and sex, instead of being destructive, can be sacred when the Spirit teaches us its true purpose. The spirit drives us to flourishing.

Are you a friend of the Holy Spirit? Are you living your life on the level of the physical or metaphysical? Where might you need to change things up and live according to the Lord and not yourself?

What about anger and lust? Is there anyone you are angry at or is there any porn you are involved with? We need the metaphysical to direct the physical so we can flourish.

Let us pray: "Lord, I want to live according to your Holy Spirit. Send me your Spirit to lead me in the ways of flourishing in goodness and beauty. I know that the physical drives the Spirit into the ground and destruction ensues. May your Spirit drive me and all your children into the life you have prepared for us in heaven. I belong to you- may your Holy Spirit show me what that means. Amen"

+Fr. John

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