There is a relentless spirit in the world, and its message tries to convince us that what we see is all there is, and that we should fashion ourselves as gods of the moment, to seize the day for ourself. This spirit encourages us to create our own unholy trinity of me, myself and I.

One of my favorite movies, 1960's Breathless, plays on this nihilistic theme. An American woman is wooed by a small time thief hiding from the police in Paris. She is entranced by his disregard for the life around them and its rules; he asserts a confidence in his imaginary territory, freed from the constraints  that limit them. He is like the household gods that Zechariah prophecied about, uttering nonsense and leading the people of Israel away from the true shepherd.

The real trinity of Father, Son, and  Holy Spirit offers us something far greater than worship of ourself; they bring us into their own intimate dance, as the Spirit shows us, each and every day that we look to dance with them, what it is to  be a living temple of the one true God.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.  Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." 1 Corinthians 3

For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. Zechariah 10