“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
28th May 2021
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FRIDAY, EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Sir 44:1,9-13; Ps 149:1-6,9; Mk 11:11-25
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LET US CLEANSE THE TEMPLE WITHIN US
Whenever we speak about Jesus or try to characterize his person we think of a calm, serene, humble and loving personality. But in today’s Gospel, the image of Jesus that we see is quite in contrast to this traditional outlook. We have two instances narrated one after the other, where we sense the emotion of anger in him. While it can be confusing, on the one hand, we see Jesus trying to send a message, or rather a warning, to the disciples and the crowd around.
The scenario of Jesus cursing the fig tree may seem unjust, understanding that it was not the season for figs. But when we associate it with that of the Temple of Jerusalem, we will find that the encounter with the fig tree has a symbolic significance. Jesus, in the aftermath of the cleansing of the Temple, quotes two prophetic texts to justify his action. “My house shall be called the house of prayer to all nations” (Is 59:7). “But you have made it a den of thieves” (Jer 7:11).
The temple was supposed to be a place to experience the presence of God. But now it had become a place of business and trading wherein the poor and the needy were exploited. This imagery very much goes along with the imagery of the fig tree which would not bear fruit for those in need; later, it was found withered away, just as Jesus had said. Likewise, Jesus warns that the Temple too would wither away if it continued to favour the rich and powerful while neglecting the poor and needy.
The first reading also asserts that the generation of a godly person would exist for ages while that of a wicked person would soon perish. Paul tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Cor 6:19). Being temples of God, we have to reach out to everyone without any prejudice or bias. Let us ask his grace to cleanse the temple within us from all sin and wickedness.
Response: The Lord takes delight in his people.
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