GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 18TH NOVEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Revelation 10:8-11
PSALM: Psalm 119:14, 24,72,103,111,131
GOSPEL: Luke 19:45-48
THEME: MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER
One who goes to a cinema generally expects to be entertained. When one walks into a restaurant, one would expect to find good food. When a student goes to school, he/she expects to receive good education. In sum, the cinema, restaurant and school have their own specific primary purpose. When a restaurant turns into a school and a school becomes a restaurant, there is a shift in purpose. In the same way, the “house of God”, be it a temple or church building, has a primary purpose – to facilitate an encounter with God. The “house of God” thus offers the right ambiance for one to pray.
In our Gospel text, Jesus appears to be displeased with the excessive business activities that were taking place on the premises of the temple. Some may argue that the trading itself, e.g. selling of sheep, turtledoves, money-changing etc, was meant to facilitate the worship of God since these items were needed for the sacrifices that took place in the temple. However, when the trade overshadowed the primary purpose of the temple, Jesus drove them out and reminded them, “According to scripture, my house shall be a house of prayer…” (Luke 19:46).
Generally in our churches today, we do not see the selling of sheep, doves and other animals meant for sacrifice. However, the business activities in some churches are gradually overshadowing the core mission of the Church. In some places, rather than preaching salvation, the sermon is turned into a business management lecture class. Some men (and women) of God in charge of pasturing the flock have made themselves comedians and turned the churches into entertainment theatres and worship into a concert party. In some places, church buildings are immediately locked after church service but the business centres on the premises of the church are opened throughout the day. The making of money, rather than the salvation of people has become the secret vision statement of some houses of God. Jesus turns to all of us today with a simple message, “My house shall be a house of prayer” (Luke 19:46).
It is time to champion the cause of prayer in our churches. More than ever, followers of Christ should be regarded as men and women of prayer.
Prayer: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).