19TH NOVEMBER 2021
1 Maccabees 4:36-37. Psalm 1 Chronicles 29:10-12. Luke 19:45-48.
The temple belongs to God
In the first reading, Judas is leading the re-dedication of the temple. In our gospel reading Christ is cleansing the temple. It has become a business center. From early in Judaism the temple acted as a uniting factor for the Israelites/Jews and was also a place of worship. The intention had been changed. It's something we do at times too. We change the purpose of our baptism. We are baptized on order that we become holy. We are baptized in order to become like Christ. We go astray and loose focus at times.
When we don't attend Mass often we have dirtied the temple. When we fail to go for confession. When we receive the Eucharist in a state of sin. When we become too materialistic and less spiritual. When we don't invest in our spiritual life. When we let vice drive us. This alone is a sign that we have dirtied and it needs to be cleansed. Christ alone cleanses. Unless we are close to Christ we aren't going to be clean. The temple needs re-dedication often through the sacraments. The temple needs cleansing by being thrown our of ourselves and learning that we belong go Christ.
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