The cleansing of the Temple

The cleansing of the Temple

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Rev. 10:8-11, Lk. 19:45-48. Today's Gospel tells us about the cleansing of the Temple, the dwelling place of God. Jesus expels the merchants from the sacred precincts which they have turned into a marketplace. The book of Exodus (23:15) commanded Israel not to enter the Temple empty-handed, but to bring some victim to be sacrificed. To make this easier for the people who had to travel a certain distance, a veritable market developed in the Temple courtyards, with animals being bought and sold for sacrificial purposes. Originally, this may have made sense, but the money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay more and the Temple became a livestock mart than a place for meeting God. Our Churches which have become 'minimart' for gossip and injustice to the poor must be overturned so that they may be for us a place of meeting God. Our body, the Temple must also give glory to God. We must rejoice and take pride in building it, decorating it and keeping it holy, worthy of God. If anything unholy or impure gets into it, it must at once be cleansed. Jesus desires that we take the same care of our souls as we think of the Temple of God. May the Lord overturn our ‘tables’ of pride, selfishness, meaningless rituals and profit-oriented religious celebrations, so that we may offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice pleasing to God! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!

Our Social Media