My house shall be a house of prayer…

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel for today, we hear of our Lord turning out those people from the temple area that were not acting appropriately at the entrance of the temple. They were the money changers in the rear of the temple, focusing on making a profit from those people that needed to purchase a pigeon or dove or some other animal for their sacrifice to God in the temple. These sellers were focusing on making a profit on these animals rather than helping people get what they needed in order to offer sacrifice to God in the temple. It’s entirely possible that they were overcharging for these animals and cheating these people that needed the animals for their sacrifice. They were focusing on their greed rather than on the true and proper sacrifice and worship of God in the temple.

As we reflect on this gospel, what is our focus upon entering Church for Mass? We should try our best to never be distracted by anyone or anything other than focusing on our prayer and worship of God. It’s easy to get distracted coming into church when we see people we know or get distracted by the issues we may have at home, or the other things in our life that may be on our minds. But once we enter church, we need to try to focus on the fact that we are entering into the presence of God and are here to give him worship and praise.

After entering church, it would be ideal to find your quiet place in the church and reflect on the scripture readings that will be used for Mass. Or simply come into church for quiet time with the Lord in the tabernacle and give Him thanks and praise for the many blessings we have in life, and to ask for help in the areas where we need help. We are to place all our cares and concerns into the loving hands of the Lord. This is how we are to make the church a House of Prayer. Further, we are to be considerate of those around us that also need this time alone with God in order to deal with their cares and concerns. We are all to center our attention on the fact that Jesus is present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the tabernacle. Focus on Him and give Him thanks for His presence in your life.

Pope St. John Paul II once said, “Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention away from yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord.” So, turn your mind and heart towards God, remembering as you enter church that this is a House of Prayer. Once you focus on the Lord present here with us, then you will have that peace and calm that can only come from a loving and caring God. 

He Is No Fool . . .

In Christ Jesus I have reason to boast to what pertains to God.

 

Scripture readings for today's reflections can be found at Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

Our first reading for today is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. As you may recall, Paul was formerly a persecutor of the early Christians. He was a Pharisee and was very zealous in attempting to eradicate the early Christian Church. He was rounding them up and bringing them to trial in order to prevent them from preaching about the fact that Jesus Christ had indeed risen from the dead on Easter Sunday morning and was indeed the Messiah everyone was waiting for. Paul thought and believed they were heretics that needed to be stopped and punished, even to the point of death. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of Paul being present at the stoning to death of the deacon, St. Steven. In Acts chapter 8, verse 1, we read that St. Paul was consenting to Stephen’s death.

Then Paul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus that changed his whole life. Paul went from persecuting these early Christians to being one of the greatest leaders of this new faith that he tried to destroy.

In today’s reading we hear Paul say God had given him grace to be a minister of Jesus Christ. As a result of Paul’s conversion, he traveled far and wide to bring this good news of Jesus Christ to everyone he would meet. Paul traveled beyond the Jewish community and was known to be the apostle to the Gentiles as St. Peter was the apostles to the Jews. Paul taught that the good news of Jesus Christ was not meant only for the Jewish people who were waiting for the Messiah, but this good news was meant for all people. It wasn’t easy for Paul and he suffered greatly for bringing the Gospel to others, but he remained strong in his faith in Jesus Christ. At one point in the Acts of the Apostles, they were suspicious of Paul’s newfound faith. They found it hard to believe that the one who was trying to put them to death was now preaching about Jesus Christ being the Messiah.

Paul is an example of how we are all to live out our lives as Christians. We have all entered into that relationship with Jesus Christ when we were baptized and received confirmation. We continue in that relationship with Jesus Christ each time we come to mass and receive Holy Communion. We, like St. Paul, are called to bring this good news of the Risen Jesus to all those in our lives. We may not be called to preach as St. Paul did, but we are called to preach in how we live out our lives as Christian people. As followers of Christ, we are to bring this love of Christ to all we meet by showing them the love that God has for each one of us.

St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” So, as we go through our day today, bring this love of Christ to all meet, whether it’s by helping someone in need, or just by simply praying for someone that may need your prayers. Then we, like St. Paul, will be spreading the Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.