Revelation 10:8-11,
Psalm 119:14.24.72.103.111,
Luke 19:45-48 Full Readings
Saint Rose Philippine DuchesneZeal for the House of God
In today's Gospel, Jesus is full of zeal for his father’s house. He drove out those who made the Temple a den of robbers. The money changers charged extra money. Those selling animals often sold ten times more costly than the normal market prices. He certainly stepped on the toes of all those who benefited from this injustice and legalized robbery and the broad victimization of the poor pilgrims. Even today we turn God’s house into a house of business and a den of robbers rather than a house of prayer. According to the psalmist the law from the mouth of God means more to him than large quantities of silver and gold. This should also be the same for us.
Why did Jesus drive out the money changers in the temple at Jerusalem? Was he upset with their greediness? This is the only incident in the Gospels where we see Jesus using physical force. Jesus went to Jerusalem, knowing he would meet certain death on the cross, but victory as well for our sake. His act of judgment in the temple is meant to be a prophetic sign and warning to the people that God takes our worship very seriously.
Jesus honors the Father's house of prayer by cleansing it of unholy practices. In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right - in the house of God no less! Their robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor.
The people were hungry for the word of God. In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways. Despite the objections of the religious leaders, no doubt because Jesus was usurping their authority in the house of God, the people who listened to Jesus teaching daily in the temple regarded him with great awe and respect. Luke tells us that "they hung upon Jesus' words"(Luke 19:48). How hungry are you for God's word?
As Christians, our bodies are the Temples of God, where God dwells. Today therefore, is an invitation for us to check whether there are different bad businesses taking place in our bodies and lives that make God angry, and ask ourselves, if Jesus can also act, the way he acted, in the Gospel when he visits us. Jesus wants to cleanse us and let us open up for him, so that he will, his grace heal us and cleanse us to be his forever.
The Lord wants to share his holiness with us. If we approach God's word with a humble attentive heart and with a willingness to be taught by the Lord, then we are in a good place to allow God's word to change and transform us in the likeness of Christ. The Lord wants to teach us his ways so that we may grow in holiness. The Lord both instructs and disciplines us in love to lead us from the error of our sinful ways to his truth and justice. "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). The Lord calls us to be a holy people who worship him with reverence and gratitude for his great mercy and kindness towards us. Do you allow God's word to transform you in his way of love and holiness?
Let us also reflect today on the zeal of protecting and keeping holy the house of God, either our bodies, or the church as a community or the physical churches. Let that zeal consume us all.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, you open wide the door of your house and you bid us to enter confidently that we may worship you in spirit and truth. Help me to draw near to you with gratitude and joy for your great mercy. May I always revere your word and give you acceptable praise and worship.
Be blessed
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