23 Nov 2012, Friday of Week 33; Blessed Miguel Augustin Pro

FIRST READING
Revelation 10:8-11

I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!

In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands.

R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

ALLELUIA
John 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. 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.

REFLECTIONS:

Why did Jesus drive out the money changers in the
temple at Jerusalem? Was he upset with their greediness? This is the only
incident in the Gospels where we see Jesus using physical force. Jesus
went to Jerusalem, knowing he would meet certain death on the cross, but
victory as well for our sake. His act of judgment in the temple is meant
to be a prophetic sign and warning to the people that God takes our worship
very seriously. In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action
in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers
of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to
pay many times more than was right in the house of God no less! Their
robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their
neighbor. In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the
prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:11). His act of
judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their
erring ways. Despite the objections of the religious leaders, no doubt
because Jesus was usurping their authority in the house of God, the people
who listened to Jesus teaching daily in the temple regarded him with great
awe and respect. Luke tells us that "they hung upon Jesus' words" (Luke
19:48). How hungry are you for God's word?
If we approach God's word with a humble attentive heart and with a willingness
to be taught by the Lord, then we are in a good place to allow God's word
to change and transform us in the likeness of Christ. The Lord wants to
teach us his ways so that we may grow in holiness. The Lord both instructs
and disciplines us in love to lead us from the error of our sinful ways
to his truth and justice. "God disciplines us for our good, that we may
share in his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). The Lord calls us to be a holy
people who worship him with reverence and gratitude for his great mercy
and kindness towards us. Do you allow God's word to transform you in his
way of love and holiness?

"Lord Jesus, you open wide the door of your house and you bid us to
enter confidently that we may worship you in spirit and truth. Help me
to draw near to you with gratitude and joy for your great mercy. May I
always revere your word and give you acceptable praise and worship."