Gospel reading: Lk 19:45-48
JESUS entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
REFLECTIONS: Jesus… proceeded to drive out those who were selling things
Jesus cleanses the temple area as soon as he gets there. This may be one of the reasons why he wept over Jerusalem. The people have turned the Temple from a house of prayer into a den of thieves. Those in charge – the chief priests, the law experts, and influential leaders – have become syndicates. They connive to silence Jesus for exposing their religious malpractices. These supposedly holy people will later become murderers. They cannot take the words of Jesus. Jerusalem will be destroyed because they have misused the Temple and its ministries.
In the cleansing scene, not all are fuming. At this point, some people are hanging on Jesus’ words. He has been teaching them in the temple area since his arrival. His devout listeners surround Jesus. This prevents his enemies from carrying out their plot to kill him.
If Jesus comes to our churches, cathedrals, and basilicas, will he see them as houses of prayer? Or will he find them as tourist sites or business centers? We who are taught well in our faith must be zealous to prevent the houses of prayer from being misused and abused. We can remind our priests to do more preaching and teaching than fund-raising.
* * *
Jesus drives vendors and thieves out of the Temple.
Let us not allow monkey business in our houses of prayer.
* * *
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
