A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 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.
REFLECTION: "My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”
Jesus Christ is the reason we submit to Church authority--it is for the love of God. To find rest and peace , humble obedience in prayer is always our sanctuary.
The temple lost its focus. We can lose our focus on God. God is put at a level where we ignore and find Him irrelevant. We have forgotten who God is and we have forgotten that God is present and He is around us. So many times we go to Church but we are not aware nor do we desire Him. So we need to separate ourselves from ourselves, give up our own way in order to live in harmony with God.
Presently we see the Church undergoing persecution and martyrdom by the enraged enemies of God. Some of these enemies are from within. As with the cleansing of the Temple and the driving out of demons, Jesus speaks with authority. He will clean out His Church. He can also clean out our own spiritual temples. Through persevering prayer and acts of love, our wills can conform to God's will.
Now is the time to remove temptations, loss of time and material desires.
Does Jesus speak to us with authority? Do we obey Him? Do we honor Jesus in our spiritual temple? Do we carry in us praise and glory for Him? Or have dens of thieves taken over our souls?
Now is the time for PAPA to pray, without ceasing, the PAPA Prayer for Priests.
God Bless You
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