No Confidence in Flesh

The readings join in one summons: do not build on the flesh, but on the house of God, and press on toward the life that comes from Him. Solomon gathers stone and timber for the temple; Job exposes the emptiness of windy speech and self-justifying wisdom; Ezekiel sees water flowing from the sanctuary, making dead places live; Paul casts away every ground of boasting and strains toward the resurrection.

The work begins with a foundation not of our own making. As Origen says, "For it is written in the third Book of Kings, 1 Kings 5:18 that they prepared the stones and the wood three years, and in the fourth year, in the second month, 1 Kings 6:1 when Solomon was king over Israel, the king commanded, and they brought great precious stones for the foundation of the house, and unhewn stones." God’s house is not raised by noise, vanity, or human rank, but by patient preparation. So too the soul is made ready by obedience: prayer instead of empty talk, repentance instead of excuse, almsgiving instead of hoarding honor.

And what comes from this house? Not pride, but life for others. Barnabas writes, "And there was a river flowing on the right, and from it arose beautiful trees;" The true temple does not terminate in itself. Its waters heal. Therefore Paul refuses confidence in circumcision, lineage, zeal, and blameless appearance. He counts all such things loss, that he may gain Christ and attain the resurrection.

Let us then restrain vain speech, abandon fleshly boasting, and become fit stones in God’s building, so that from the worship we offer may flow mercy, purity, and steadfast endurance for the healing of many.