Cleansing of The Temple

19 November 2010

Today’s Readings: Rv 10:8-11 /Lk 19:45-48

REFLECTION
Jesus had a deepest respect for the temple. He was presented by Mary in the temple, at the age of twelve when he was lost his parents found him in the temple to remind them that he must be about his father’s business, he went there every year for the passover and the temple was a place for his public ministry. When Jesus saw that it became a marketplace he drove out those who were selling and told them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” It became a place of business to acquire money and became a venue for illegal, greedy and corrupt practices. The chief priest and the scribes and those people involved in the trade were plotting to get rid of Jesus.

Jesus was not afraid to stand for the truth even it incurs the anger and antagonism of those in power. The temple had lost its purpose to be a place of encounter with God. Jesus cleansed the temple to bring it back to its original function as a place prayer. We need to have great respect and love for the temple, Jesus as the new temple and we as the temple of God.

PRAYER
Loving Father, we praise and thank you for creating us in your image and likeness, send your Holy Spirit upon so that our thoughts, words and actions may be holy and we may become a temple worthy of you. Amen.