Friday of the 8th week in the ordinary time of the year A

Theme: A sacred space

In our gospel reading of today from St. Mark, Jesus points out the fact that the church is a sacred space and should be treated as such by all those who visit it. To further buttress this fact, we see the anger of Jesus, that led him to chasing people out of the temple, who were selling and desecrating the temple. In our own time, we all as Christians are expected to treat the church with reverence and as a sacred place. It is a place of communication or prayer between God and his people. It is expected that the consciousness of where we are should always guide what we do or say when we are in the church. It is not a place for us to begin to discuss or chat or make phone calls. When we do any of these or more, we are simply desecrating the church, and God is seriously against it; as seen in the gospel reading of today. Jesus made it emphatically clear that the church is a place of prayer and should be seen as such.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, the anger of the chief priests and the Scribes against Jesus was uncalled for. He was simply telling them the truth and the right thing to be done, he did not offend them in any way. This points out one of the challenges that many people are not comfortable with, especially when they are involved directly. The issue here is the fact that they could not take the truth about themselves, as exposed by Jesus. He simply corrected their practice of desecrating the temple and used the opportunity to tell them the right thing that should be done in the temple.

 In the same way, some of us cannot stand the truth about our failings. So, we rather attack the source, just like the chief priests and the Scribes did. Instead of taking time to reflect on what has been said, to know whether it is right or wrong. Openness to listen to the truth and constructive criticisms about us will help us to become a better person. Sometimes we must be slow and listen to what people have to say about us, if it is true, work on it and if it is not, you move on with your life.

Lastly in the gospel, Jesus pointed out the fact that whatever we ask the father in prayer, with faith, he will grant us. Pointing out the power in prayer, for all of us as children of God. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.

Friday of the 8th week in the ordinary time year A, by Fr. Jude Ifeanyi Ifezime, C.S.Sp