The 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: This passage reveals not only something that Jesus did long ago, it also reveals something that He desires to do today. Additionally, He desires to do this in two ways: He desires to root out all evil within the temple of our world, and He desires to root out all evil in the temple of our hearts.
In regard to the first point, it is clear that the evil and ambition of many throughout history have seeped into our Church and world. This is nothing new. Everyone has most likely encountered some sort of hurt from those within the Church itself, from society and even from family. Jesus does not promise perfection from those we encounter every day, but He does promise to vigorously go after evil and root it out.
As for the second and most important point, we should see this passage as a lesson for our own soul. Each soul is a temple that should be set aside solely for the glory of God and the fulfillment of His holy will. Therefore, this passage is fulfilled today if we allow our Lord to enter in and to see the evil and filth within our own souls. This may not be easy to do and will require a true humility and surrender, but the end result will be cleansing and purification by our Lord.
Action of the Day: Reflect, today, upon the fact that Jesus desires to bring about purification in many ways. He desires to purify the Church as a whole, each society and community, your own family and especially your own soul. Do not be afraid to let Jesus’ holy wrath work its power. Pray for purification on all levels and let Jesus accomplish His mission.
Audio Reflection:
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