FRIDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2023
FRIDAY OF THE THIRTY THIRD WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME A
SAINT ANDREW DUNG-LAC, Priest, and COMPANIONS, Martyrs (Memorial)
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
Luke 19: 46-48
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE AND MAINTAINING ITS SANCTITY
The two readings of today appraised and encourages on the sanctity and the task of maintaining the sacredness and cleanliness of the temple.
In the first reading the people of Israel set out to rebuild and rededicate the temple of the Lord which was desecrated and destroyed by Antiochus Epiphanies. The rebuilding and the rite of rededication was celebrated over one week for the temple stands at the centre of the life of the people.
It symbolizes the presence of God in their midst and depicts their relationship with God. The rededication which was celebrated with great solemnity and decorum is to welcome and adore the God whose presence is now evident and who has taken his place in their lives once again.
In the gospel, Jesus reassert the purpose of the temple by cleaning the temple. He drove out all those things unbecoming of it nature and purpose. He even declares that the temple is a place of prayer. A place of encounter between God and man. A place where the divine blesses and empowers the human. It is a place of grace, the abode of God. The temple should never be meant for anything but the sole purpose of offering sacrifices, adoration, supplication, Intercession and worship of our God who invites and blesses us in this place.
The temple is the house of God. Our churches are the temples of God, our chapels, our grottos, our oratories and shrines which are dedicated to the service of God.
We must maintain these places, preserve them for their purpose and use them as such. No one must despise the house of God but we must adore and respect and contribute to its purpose. It must be maintained, cleansed and upgraded at all times.
I appreciate the great care and enthusiastic response in our parish the maintenance of the cleanliness, sacredness and safety of our church and the grotto. I thank all our women and men who dedicate themselves to making sure that on daily basis our church and grotto is kept clean and sacred. May the blessings and peace of Christ be with you all. And may our prayers and supplications be answered whenever we offer the sacrifice of Christ here in our church through Christ our Lord.
Let us also remember that ad scripture reminds us that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and we must always cleanse our hearts, as we keep clean the house of God and make them always accessible to God.
God of all creation, beginning and end of our lives, we come to you in your house of Prayer seeking your face and your graces for our lives and our wellbeing. Be gracious to us and bless our desire to worship you. Accept our worship each time we come before your presence, forgive our sins and make our hearts always incline to your words, to obey, abide and hallow your name in our lives through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
