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It is clear that he (she) does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir the person in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will
what the person in us wills.
- Thomas Aquinas
(Thy will be done . . . the way to peace!) |
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EZ 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 COR 3:9C-11,
16-17
JN 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and
oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews
said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
USCCB Lectionary
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Jesus referred to the temple as his Father's house which was being made into a "house of trade" (John 2:16) or "den of robbers" (Mark 11:17). That is why he used physical force to expel the money-chargers. The prophecy of Malachi foretold the coming of the Lord
unexpectedly to his Temple to "purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord" (Malachi 3:1-4). Jesus' disciples recalled the prophetic words from Psalm 69: "Zeal for your house will consume me" (Psalm 69:9). This was understood as a prophecy describing the Messiah. Here the disciples saw more clearly Jesus as the Messiah who burned with zeal for the house of God.
The Jewish authorities, however, wanted proof that Jesus had divine authority to act as he did. They demanded a sign from God to prove Jesus right, otherwise, they would treat him as an imposter and a usurper of their authority. Jesus replied that the sign God would give would be Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews did not understand that the temple Jesus
referred to was his own body. The "tent of his body" had to be destroyed to open the way to the presence of God for us.
The Lord Jesus makes us temples of the Holy Spirit
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus not only reconciles us with God, he fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes us temples of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God's word enlightens our minds and purifies our hearts that we may offer God fitting worship and enjoy his presence both now and forever. Do you burn with zeal for the Lord’s house?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you open wide the door of your Father’s house and you bid us to enter confidently that we may worship in spirit and truth. Help me to draw near to your throne of mercy with gratitude and joy."
- from
dailyscripture.netPaperback, Kindle
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 5: The Journey to Egoic Authenticity - Being Intelligent and Reasonable (Using the critical reflection process discussed thus far, we can examine our religious and other
cultural beliefs.)
. . . As children, we typically accept the explanations given in response to our questions about God, for example, as valid since they were shared by an adult authority. Later in life, we will probably want to re-visit those responses, and even the questions themselves. We might even choose to
undertake a process of deliberate inquiry (even if our questions aren’t urgent) as a way of updating our knowledge and understanding. What follows is a possible approach:
- What does the tradition actually teach on a particular matter (not simply what I think it
teaches)?
- Why does the tradition teach what it teaches? How did it come to this understanding?
- What parts of this teaching make sense to me?
- What parts do not make sense, or do I not understand?
- What do I now believe in light of this process of study?
- What further investigations are
necessary?
Obviously, this is hard work, but the fruit of it would be an authentic engagement with one’s religious, cultural or family tradition. You would know what you believe and why, and so would be more disposed to act on these beliefs accordingly (being responsible). Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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