THE CLEANSING AND PURIFICATION OF THE TEMPLE. ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Friday, 18th November 2016,

Thirty Third Week of Ordinary Time

Memorial of Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul

Acts 28:11-16,30-31;

Ps 118:14,24,72,103,111,131;

Lk 19:45-48

THE CLEANSING AND PURIFICATION OF THE TEMPLE.

The Gospel today speaks about the purification and re-dedication of the Jerusalem temple. For the Jews, the temple was unparalleled and incomparable to anything, for God himself had chosen to dwell in it.

The original temple built by King Solomon in around 960 B.C. (1 Kg 6: 1) was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon in 587 B.C. (2 Chro 36). Rebuilt by Zerubbabel after the Babylonian captivity, it was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes the Seleucide King in 167 B.C. It was rededicated in 165 B.C. by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers. Herod the Great in order to curry favour with the Jews repaired this second temple and tried to restore it to the former glory which took nearly 46 years (Jn 2: 20). After this temple was razed to the ground by the Romans in 70 A.D, it has never been built again. In its place today stands the mosque of Omar!

Jesus, in today’s Gospel cleanses the temple and tries to restore it to the original purpose. We live in changed times, but even today the temple can have different significance for the people.

1. A museum – people just come to see the beauty / architecture / paintings in the church.

2. A grocery store – people come to get/buy something from God.

3. Tax office - I’ve to pay my tax or hafta… if not He will punish me and my family!

4. Fashion center – where people come to exhibit themselves and their latest style, dress and jewelry.

5. A place of worship – where people can experience the presence of God in a very powerful way.

God had chosen to dwell in the temple, not because he had no place - for he is master of the universe. It is a consecrated place that helps us build a strong relationship with Him. For what purpose do you make use of the Church?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, cleanse me and restore me to the original innocence and purity.