Tag: temple

“All the people were hanging on his words.” | Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 19:45-48)

The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

When he comes to drive out those who are selling things in the temple area, Jesus says to them: “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time see him coming every day to teach in the temple area. To their frustration, they can’t find a way to put him to death. In seeking to put Jesus to death, they find instead that he speaks the words of eternal life to those who hang on his words. How could they kill the one who is hope to the hopeless, the shepherd to lost sheep who guides and guards them? Jesus, the living word of God, is in spiritual battle at his Father’s house.

Father in heaven, help me shut out the distractions of a world clamoring with buying and selling, the voices from the marketplace coming from every device. Drive out every darkness that is not of you, as Jesus drove the merchants from the temple area, and help me find you in quiet moments set aside for the day. As the psalmist says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” Strengthen me, Lord, for spiritual battle in this life by my listening for the voice of your Son and following him.

From the responsorial psalm: “You have dominion over all, In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.” Lord, help me today to hang on your words. Saint Andrew and martyrs, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

“Live as children of light,” Saint Paul says, “for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sees in Jerusalem a man lying in a portico near the pool of Bethesda. The man had been ill a long time—thirty-eight years, John tells us. Knowing this, Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be well?” The man tells Jesus that he has no one to put him into the pool, so others get there before him as he is on his way. Jesus says to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” The man becomes well immediately and takes up his mat and walks. Because this took place on the sabbath, the Jews told the man it was not lawful for him to carry the mat. When they found out that Jesus was the one who made the man well, they began to persecute Jesus. “Look, you are well,” Jesus said to the man, “Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” It might seem odd to ask, but what does Jesus mean? What things worse are there for one who has been ill for thirty-eight years?

God, help me comprehend the everlasting harm to the soul brought on by despair and unrepented sin. Let me see the goodness in this Gospel and take to heart Jesus’ command: “do not sin any more.” To experience Jesus’ healing in confession is to hear him say, “Look, you are well.” In the first reading from Ezekiel, the water that flowed from the temple made trees grow whose leaves would never fade and whose fruit would never fail. “The fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” Jesus, you in your being are the medicine that makes us well.

Through the sacraments, I have both healing in this life and the medicine of immortality. God, be my ever-present help in distress today and always. Thank you, Lord, for your presence!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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