HOMILY FOR FRIDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A
THEME: HE DROVE SELLERS
BY: MSGR GERALD M. MUSA
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! (Psalm 84:1). The temple is lovely because it is considered to be a sacred space where God dwells. “Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer.” Fundamentalists use this passage to condemn any kind of fundraising in the church, including Harvest and Bazaar. Don’t get it twisted. Jesus confronted those who engaged in corrupt business practices in the name of religion. Bazaars are usually a fun-filled method of raising funds and this includes raffle draws, selling food, try-your-luck games as well as auctioning goods that are presented in thanksgiving to God.
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There is yet another interpretation of the cleansing of the temple. Origen, a third-century father of the Church views the driving of the sellers as a symbolic action of cleansing the soul from earthly things. Therefore, Jesus confronts not only merchants but, also those who have sold their souls to the devil for the sake of money; those who use the name of God to make a dirty profit; false pastors whose interest is not so much in the salvation of souls than in building business empires for themselves: including the so-called men of God who have reduced religion into an incorporated commercial enterprise; he will confront people who sell their destiny for peanuts or porridge. Do we in any way distort or abuse religion for our selfish and vested interests?
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