Homily for Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle I
Theme: HE Drove Sellers
By: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
Homily for Friday November 19 2021
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 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 for thanksgiving in Church. 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 in making 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 confronts people who sell their destiny for peanuts or porridge. Do we in any way distort or abuse religion for our selfish and vested interests?
Luke 19: 45-48; Friday, 33rd Week