Jesus’ image in today’s Gospel is a world away from the story book caricature of Jesus “meek and mild.” Today, Jesus is angry at the crass display of irreverence right at the very house of God. The temple, a place of worship, has become a marketplace; it has become a den of thieves. Jesus’ commands: “Take all these out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace.”

Jesus is angry because God’s house is desecrated. The mundane concern for profit at the expense of sacred worship is a sacrilege against Him who is worshipped. If we were in Jesus’ shoes, wouldn’t we be angry, too?

Are we bothered when we go to Mass not properly dressed and yet go to parties in the latest fashion? Are we slow to see anything wrong when we gossip during the Holy Eucharist and yet quick to teach others to make a double genuflection when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed? Is it sinful for us to pray in church and yet cheat in our places of work? Do we recognize the horror of supporting the Church with wealth illegally or immorally amassed? May Jesus cleanse God’s holy temple. We are the temples of God’s Spirit, and Jesus’ anger is fanned into fire each time we show irreverence to ourselves and commit injustice against one another. If we were in His shoes, we cannot be less angry.

When we indulge ourselves in vices that kill the body and condemn the soul, do we feel guilty? When we are indifferent to the sufferings of others, do we feel contrite? When we tolerate a culture of sin and death but claim ourselves as Christians, do we recognize our need for conversion?

When we say that we love God and yet hate our neighbors, do we realize the fundamental lie on which our lives are based? May Jesus cleanse us, God’s holy temple.

As we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, may we be reminded that we ourselves are God’s temple—precious and holy. Fr.Bobby Titco

O God living in me, make me holy by Your indwelling. As I carry You in my heart wherever I go, let me give You to whoever I meet. The more I give You to others, the more I have You. The more I keep You, the less I have You. Amen.