Over and over again in the Gospel accounts we see Jesus going off to pray in silence, preach in the synagogue, and go to the temple for worship. His attitude was obvious: he honoured his Father and had a deep awareness of the sacred space of his own person and in places of worship reserved for the Father’s honor and glory. Jesus was so very conscious of his Father’s continual presence that he could enter the chamber of his heart alone and be with his Father for long periods of time. How can we imitate Jesus in his constant communion with the Father? How can we protect the sacredness of our prayer time and our reverence for the Church in which we worship?
“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.”
Jesus was very particular in the way people conducted their affairs while in church. Jesus was so offended and hurt when He saw the merchants do their business inside the temple and convert it into a market place. Because of this, He ejected them and called them thieves.
When our Churches lose their identity as God’s body because of what we as members do, or have failed to do, then we become like the merchants and the money changers in the temple. We take care only of our own business in utter disregard of the true purpose of God’s church. We fail to live up to our calling as God’s creations who were made to give praise and worship to God, to love Him above all and our neighbor as ourselves.
God’s Church is not only a physical structure that we exclusively dedicate for use by our Lord but it is the very body of Christ Himself, His very own people who worship Him in spirit and truth. As members of His Church who are in communion with Him and with one another, we too are individually the temples of the Spirit as the Spirit has made every believer’s soul His warm home and abode.
As the body of Christ and members of His Church we can desecrate God’s Body. By sowing confusion, by misleading people from what our Lord really wants for His flock, by being a poor witness that people are led to commit sinful acts, by misuse of authority and power so that division and cliques develop within the body, by our unwillingness to let go and let God work in His Body, by simply failing to be an honest vessel of God’s truth, love and mercy or by simply leading a sinful life- we become thieves within God’s very own Body as we rob God of what is rightfully His and make ourselves gods!
When it is our will that takes control, when it is our lustful desires for pleasure and fulfillment that take precedence over a life of self giving and self denial, then we have truly failed God and have made our souls a den of thieves.
Watch out! We unknowingly might lose what God has given all of us- His Church and the never-ending life of joy and peace that awaits all of us!
Let us not short change God. Instead let us give Him the best and all that we have-our very own lives.
Lord Jesus, I want to grow in the awe of the dignity and sacredness of my person and allow that to translate into how I worship and honour you in the life of the Church. Open wide the door of your house and 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. Help me to say no to all sin and vice—those thieves seeking to steal my heart from you! Help me to value not only the sacredness of my own person, but also the sacred space of the parish where I worship you in the Eucharist. Grant me a deeper consciousness of your continual presence. Jesus, I trust in You.
Today by God's grace, pray in a place (whether at home or at Church) where you put all distractions aside so as to be fully present to God. The Lord be with you