CLEANSING THE TEMPLE

The gospel reading at mass earlier this week he told of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem. A footnote in the new American Bible says “Immediately upon entering the holy city, Jesus in a display of his authority, enters the temple and lays claim to it after cleansing it, that it might become a proper place for his teaching ministry in Jerusalem (Lk 19:47).

Now take the image of Jesus cleansing the temple and combine it with the idea that each of us is a temple of God. When Jesus wishes to come into your heart, into his temple ¨cleansing it that it might become a proper place for his teaching¨ what does he find there? Does the place need to be purified of all sorts of foreign stuff do not belong there? well, does Jesus need to push his way in past some disordered passions, step over a pile of your favorite distractions, and elbow aside a few little vices that you allow yourself?

With the celebration of the Solemnity Of Christ the King this coming Sunday we are reaching the end of the liturgical year. It’s a good time to inspect the temple of your heart and look for things that might be cluttering it.

When the first Sunday of advent comes on December 1, we want to be able to welcome Jesus into a Beautiful place repaired for his coming.