“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” JN 2:13-25
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Jesus enters the holy city of Jerusalem today where Passover celebrations will take place. He will change the Passover to the first Mass on Holy Thursday with His Apostles. First, He must cleanse the temple and challenge the religious authority who has made His Father’s House a “marketplace”.
The Jews are getting kickbacks from the sellers in the Temple (much of what is being sold is from the poor). When Jesus pushes everyone out and calls out the Jews leaders, He really upsets the chief priests and scribes. They plot to kill Him.
Today, I would like to take some time to talk about sacred places. I am seeing less and less people showing reverence in sacred places. Or, they don’t know how to dress or act in sacred spaces. I believe if we lose this in our own Catholic faith, as those who are called to be counter-cultural, it will have an even more devastating effect on society.
How reverently do we enter God’s house, the Church? Jesus stays hidden behind a piece of bread and in the wine so we can approach Him in the Church. He is so humble he can fit between the priests two fingers. We worship with our bodies, so as you enter the Church, take time to bless yourself with the Holy Water and remember your baptism (your venial sins are washed away).
This water is different than other waters. Your sin is washed away and the gates of heaven are open for your soul because Jesus died on the cross and resurrected. Take time to genuflect properly on your right knee recognizing Jesus is in the tabernacle. This is a sign of reverence, take it serious. Kneel before the God that created you and your Savior, praying in silence to prepare yourself for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We do these two things to remind us that God is big and we are small. God does not need our sacrifice, we need sacrifice.
Remind yourself in some small way what you are doing when we ask God for forgiveness and mercy in the Introductory Rite to prepare our souls to receive Jesus in the Word and in the Eucharist. Pay attention to the readings which you have read and reflected on before Mass (right! :)).
If you don’t reflect on what Jesus is trying to tell you before Mass, try to do it at some point in your day. This is where He will tell you who He is and how much you are loved. What is Jesus trying to tell you? His Word has transforming power! If a priest would have not suggested this to me, I would have never started writing these Scripture reflections which have helped me make the Holy Spirit a reality in my life. It is the one continual grace I have received that has been the most transforming in developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I’m in love with Jesus Christ and I love telling everyone about it!
Next, go through the 5 sorrowful mysteries from the time the gifts are taken up to the consecration. Use your imagination. God is bringing all of us back to the foot of the cross at the altar. Watch “The Veil Removed” to help you recognize what happens at Mass! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOLZDaTgIaM
After the words of consecration, you can say the words of St. Thomas the Apostle when Jesus returns after the Resurrection. Thomas doubted that Jesus had resurrected so Thomas said he had to put his fingers in Jesus’ hands and his fist in Christ’s side. Jesus appears and Thomas puts his fingers in Christ’s hands and fist in His side. He then says the words, “My Lord, and My God”.
I say these words at the consecration then I bow my head and tell Jesus I believe He is truly present. It reminds me He is physically present, Thomas touched the physical glorified body of Jesus. He is alive and still alive right now in this time and place for us so that we can get back to the Father and glorify the Father with our lives now here on earth.
I ask God for the grace to keep me present to Jesus fully alive in this moment all the way through the end of the Mass! Where else do we need to go, what else do we need? This is it and it’s amazing! Jesus is enough for everything life is going to throw at us. Embrace him as He dies to have a personal relationship with you. This is what your heart is truly seeking! Be vulnerable and open yourself up totally and completely to God in this moment of grace!
Next, St. John Bosco recommends we think of our sins during the Eucharistic Prayer. We receive Jesus and our venial sins are forgiven, we have the grace to fight mortal sin stronger, we are unified with Christ and the believers all over the world, and Jesus increases our anticipation for the Kingdom of heaven. Last, we should think of resolutions to the sin we struggle with and have offered up during Mass. We should also praise and thank God for all He has given us and offer it up with the gifts on the altar.
Last, Jesus gave us right worship. Mass isn’t boring, Jesus is dying on the cross and offering up all of our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings through Him to the Father. God doesn’t need us. He is complete in Himself. The Sacrifice of the Son to the Father is continually happening until His return so that we can stay connected to Him. This everlasting covenant required God’s blood. Ponder that every Mass!
He is not a slot machine that gives us what we want. Bishop Barron says, “God is love straight through.” He is waiting in every tabernacle in the world for us to come to Him, so He can give us this love and forgiveness. Then, we are called to go forth and do something with these wonderful graces and gifts we have received. Love is meant to be shared, it’s what made us!
Today’s challenge: Next time you go to Mass, try to remember where you are at and be reverent, you are in the house of God! How unworthy are we to enter but He allows us to and receive His Son in Word and Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity! Where are your priorities? What are you worshiping?
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YOLO
Every time i am at mass I try to think of how it must have felt to be jesus.I cannot imagen it.
When the crowd got angry at Jesus for saying such things, they were filled with hatred because they expected Jesus to heal and bestow gifts on them. This is a lesson that needed to be taught to us, because too many people think that because life is hard, there is no God. If life was not hard, then we would not be challenged, and if we were not challenged, we would not grow. To grow in Love is our ultimate purpose in life. Often, we expect Jesus to do things, and when he does not do such things, we get angry, and we believe that he cheated us and we deserved said things. This is something that we need to remember about confession. If we plan to go to confession while we plan to sin, that is treated God as a shower. Get dirty, and then go wash off. This is not okay! We need to remember that confession is a repentance out of Love for God, and not as a way to simply wash the dirt off.