Gospel for March 7 2021 – John 2:13-25
Gospel Reflections for March 7 2021
Some things just do not belong…
Lent is your time to reflect on what belongs and what doesn’t in your life. Today’s readings can help you choose.
The famous Ten Commandments are listed in the first reading. How can they help?
Well, imagine a friend who is thinking of proposing to a girlfriend for marriage and comes to you for advice on how to make their marriage happy forever. You think for a moment and then confidently say …“Do not steal from her …cheat on her …lie about her …or kill her!”
He would be shocked to hear you say that! It would never occur to him to do any of those horrible things to someone he loves so deeply. Yet, those are the commandments. The Ten Commandments were not actually written for him …but for those who …do not love. and need to be told how to behave!
The Commandments are not needed at all for those who truly love. Their authentic love ensures they already live the commandments now.
You only want those behaviors of true love in your life and in your house as well, as Jesus shows in the Gospel.
Jesus arrives in the Temple area, which was built as the sacred house for people to present themselves honestly before God and seek His guidance and wisdom.
However, Jesus notices selfish and cheating behavior there. Jewish people could not use Roman currency in the temple so they had to exchange it for Jewish currency at the money changers tables. Nothing wrong in that. However, Our Lord sees money changers cheating people and in the area reserved for prayer. They do not belong there, so He quickly throws them out.
Jesus ensures that only loving behaviors happen in the Temple of the Lord, as the Gospel affirms, “Zeal for my house consumes me!” He is straightforward about removing anything that is not of true love.
What does not belong in your house …or your life? Is there fear, anger, or jealousy? Is there laziness, selfishness, or cheating? They do not belong in your life at all. You should be just as straightforward about removing them as well. That is what this Season of Lent is all about.
It may take time, and careful planning, but this is a good time to begin to make sure your life, or your family, is a place where Jesus would be happy to visit.
What is not of true love must go. What is of love must stay …and even grow!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Dick and I will make our most precious home filled with love for our Jesus to visit and live and we will keep growing in our Jesus’ love and share it with others!!!I think of Lent as a budding precious Rose who blooms beautifully with the loving action of sharing one self with others and becoming the most beautiful Rose ever desplaying ones’s love in action for our Jesus!!! Love our Jesus, love our blessed Mother, love our God and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you Father Dave for giving us the gift of our Jesus!!! We loveeeeeeeeeeeeee Him soooooooooooooo much!! We are sooooooooooooooooooooo blessed!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
We can loose track of what is most important, especially when it comes to money.
Hopefully we can look at what is most important and it is our relationship to Our Lord
Well said!
I really enjoyed your words here Father. It is important to me that you know your words are being heard, a little wake-up call.
Thank You.
Mike
I appreciate that very much. It means a lot to me to know that my words help.
Great reflection Father. It all comes down to love. So simple and so profound. Would Jesus want to visit any of our homes if he heard us discussing politics? Would He have ever ever been happy at the White House.? I think you are absolutely right: love starts with us in our homes and then each other. Above all it must start with God, the place where love itself flows.
Very well said! Thank you for sharing your reflections. Yes, love is foundation of everything in our faith and it starts with the love of God for us.
God is Love I totally agree with you it is that simple.
Yes, keep it simple. No need to make things complicated!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you once again for your inspiring message.
Our homes must be our safety nets in these troubling days. Yes, love deeply and with God’s blessing. It’s the connective tissue between us and eternity.
God bless you.
Kathleen
Thank you! Very well said. Our home must be the first place where faith happens.