www.vocation.com - 3rd Sunday in Lent

When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers sitting there. Making a whip out of cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and cattle as well, scattered the money changers coins, knocked their tables over, and said to the dove sellers," Take all this out of here and stop using my Fathers house as a market." Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: "I am consumed with zeal for your house." The Jews intervened and said," What sign can you show us that you should act like this?" Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple: are you going to raise it up again in three days?" But he was speaking of the Temple that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciple remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and what he had said. During his stay in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he did, but Jesus knew all people and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about anyone; he could tell what someone had in him.

Introductory Prayer: Jesus, you have come into my Temple, and I beg that you come again this day. Purify my heart and make it yours that you may dwell here forever.

Petition: Lord, grant that my soul be for you alone.

1. What is My Temple?

Different buildings have different uses that are designed by their owners. What man would not consider the use for his building before designing it? Then, to make use of every inch, he makes a floor plan, decides on the furnishings, the counters, the doors and windows, even the lighting. God knows what he wants of us and crafts us accordingly. In a certain way, he remains in us as the artist remains in his painting. This is not only true of our conscience, but also our talents. Maybe we are weak in some area or lack certain abilities for a reason. We need to have confidence in Gods design. We cannot think that we are too small for God's plan. Believe that God will be able to work through you - that is why he made you.

2. Take These Things Out of Here.

Sometimes we have brought things into the temple of our souls that it was not designed for. The Lord may want to remove these things when he enters in; he has zeal for his Father's house. Sometimes we have even made our temple into a place for the worship of idols. If there are created things we would not give up, how can we pretend to be consecrated to the Lord through Baptism? The Lord will bring us face to face with these things, though we ourselves did not think them a problem. He is in fact doing us a favor, for in this way he makes us a worthy place for the worship of the Father.

3. He Could Tell What Someone Had in Him.

No one knows us like God does. It is said that only God knows our real name, since he calls to the most intimate part of the person. It would follow then that when he calls us to live with him at the end of our life, he will call our name; the honesty and truth of it will be impossible to resist. When he calls us, it will be to everything we will be, everything we will have done for him, and also every act of mercy or blessing that he did for us. It will be a great pleasure to be known by someone and loved by someone who is that close to us.

God knows that we can be his followers one moment and the next moment deny him, as happened from Palm Sunday to Good Friday in Jerusalem. On the other hand, he is always faithful, as he demonstrated so well on Easter Sunday, when he fulfilled his promise to those who had abandoned him. He is still fulfilling his promise through the Holy Spirit whom he sent to lead us to the fullness of truth. When we get to know God, we slowly get know ourselves better, as he reveals us to ourselves. It is normal in the Christian life to walk slowly the road of purification, the road of the cross. God is preparing us for that meeting with him at our judgment by our embrace of his call to walk this road faithfully.

Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of my existence. I know you are leading me. Give me the strength to respond to the truth you reveal. I desire today to freely respond by ridding myself of all that hinders me from embracing your plan for me. Jesus, I trust in you, for you are the true friend of my soul.

Questionnaire: This optional questionnaire is intended to help you examine your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1. You are temples of the Holy Spirit. How do I apply this truth to my life? Do I appreciate the dignity that my Baptism has given me?

2. What do I need to clean out of Gods temple - my life during this Lent? What does not please Christ in my life?

3. Do I see God as someone who knows me well and is close to me? Do I respond in kind?