Gospel of the Day
From the Gospel according to John 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
“Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
“What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews said,
“This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?”
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
Balancing Petty Accounts
We are temples of the Holy Spirit, yet we constantly allow “inner merchants” to enter: thoughts, affections, desires… turning the soul into a marketplace where everything is up for negotiation.
Even marriage can be lived that way: “I’ll give you if you give me — and that way, we keep the balance.”
But God’s way of keeping accounts doesn’t follow that logic.
For one lost sheep, He leaves the ninety-nine.
He pays the first and the last worker the same wage.
He feeds more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish.
His zeal for the holiness of the temple —which we are— consumes Him. And while we remain trapped in our own calculations, God suffers, because He longs to restore what has fallen into disorder within us… and He counts on us to do so.
And what about us? We go on with our own business, counting and keeping score.
Brought Down to Married Life
(Laura and Andrew, driving home after Sunday Mass)
Laura: You know what? I need to ask your forgiveness.
Andrew: Oh? What for?
Laura: Sometimes I feel like I’m always giving and never receiving anything back. I expect your attention, your thoughtfulness, your time…
Andrew: Nothing? But I work all day so that nothing’s missing at home.
Laura: Let me finish, Andrew. Today, in the second reading, I heard: “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” And I asked myself, how can I make Christ the foundation? Then, during the Eucharist, it became so clear: He does everything. And how can He, if I’m the one constantly doing, never leaving Him any space?
Andrew: I didn’t know you felt that way. I feel exhausted too. Sometimes I think, “What about me? Nobody sees what I do.”
Laura: My love, I think we need to stop and rediscover who we are by getting to know Him. I love you deeply, but the moment we stop looking at Him, we start looking at ourselves — and worse, at what you do or fail to do.
Andrew: Well, what can I say? It hurts that you don’t see what I do.
Laura: Forgive me, Andrew, for not seeing it. I’m sorry.
(Later, Laura in personal prayer)
Laura: Thank You, Lord, for showing me the truth about myself and for placing in my heart the joy of discovering Your plan.
I offer You my pain over Andrew’s lack of understanding, so that through Your sacrifice You may turn my tears into nourishment for my soul.
May my heart be Your dwelling place, where my senses, feelings, and understanding become Yours, so that I may do only the will of our Father.
Amen.
Teach us to trust in Your Son’s plan.
Blessed and praised forever be the One who, with His Blood, has redeemed us.