HOUSE OF PRAYERFULNESS
Jesus
decried what the Jews had made of the only Sacred Temple that they had.
This Temple was not just a depository of the Ark of the Covenant, the
Tablets of the Decalogue, and the rod of Moses. This Temple was the
place where the high priest presided over solemn sacrifices for the
important religious holy days, such as Passover. This Temple was
likewise the place where
every morning and evening, continuous thanksgiving and sin offerings
were made on behalf of all Israel. Over all, this Temple embodied the
“Shekinah” or dwelling of God among His people.
The
solemnity of the Temple, however, did not deter the enterprising Jews,
among them relatives and friends of the priestly class, to engage in
commerce within the confines of the shrine. The Gospel story reveals
that in the Temple precints, the Jewish religious leaders began plotting
their scheme against Jesus. While the former practices of the Jews
affected the religious and worship spirit proper to the Temple, the
latter action of Jewish leaders were against the demands of the
Commandment to love others, especially fellow Jews.
More
than a House of Prayer, Jesus’ real point was seeing the Temple become a
true House of Prayerfulness. Prayerfulness is more than prayer.
Prayerfulness means more than rituals and external acts of veneration
and worship. Prayerfulness is a contemplative disposition that makes a
person see the Divine Presence in all circumstances and in all persons.
It naturally flows into a virtuous life of love, respect, justice and
compassion to all living creatures. At no time and under no
circumstances should there be room for violence but only compassion. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Has
your prayer life led you to be kinder or gentler in thoughts, words and
actions? What other fruits have you experienced from keeping a life of
prayer?
Father, help me to live a life of prayerfulness that the fruits of the Spirit may be seen in my life.
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