Worship in spirit and in truth

 

Welcome to my blog. Peace be with you.

                                                      

                                                       Friday 20 November 2020

Worship in spirit and in truth

 

First reading

Apocalypse 10:8-11 ·

I was told to swallow the scroll, and to prophesy

I, John, heard the voice I had heard from heaven speaking to me again. ‘Go,’ it said ‘and take that open scroll out of the hand of the angel standing on sea and land.’ I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll, and he said, ‘Take it and eat it; it will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.’ So I took it out of the angel’s hand, and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You are to prophesy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors.’

Prayerful reflection

The message of the Gospel is sweet to hear. God loves us infinitely, became man to search for us and save us. He has taught us the way of Truth and given himself to us. We can become as God is if we follow Jesus, God become man. No news could be greater and happier than that.

But it turns sour in the stomach. We follow Jesus in a world where the enemy of God, Satan, is everywhere active. Satan too has his followers. They persecute the children of God. Satan causes all kinds of hardships for those who love God. It is by no means easy to live and proclaim the Good News we have heard.

 

 

Gospel

Luke 19:45-48

You have turned God's house into a robbers' den

Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’

He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.

 

Prayerful reflection

God looks for sincerity, singlemindedness, humility and repentance. The Temple had become a place for trading and making money often at the expense of the simple folk. People came to the Temple to pray and experience God. It had become an empty ritual with noise. Those in charge were not interested in the spiritual welfare of the people and the true praise of God. They were interested in their own advantage.

Jesus rebels against this and drove out those who were desecrating the Temple. The people who wanted true religion were delighted and hung on to his every word.

Our religion and our services should be characterised by a sincere search for God and a worship that comes from our heart set on God alone.