TUESDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II.
Mystery of the day: Sorrowful
Table of the Word: 1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30; Psalm 84:3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 (R. 2); Mark 7:1-13
Celebration for the day: Ss. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
(+ 1597). Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit, and his twenty five companions were martyred in Nagasaki,
The WORD: "... O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer which your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel , when they pray toward this place; yes, hear in heaven your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive." (see 1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30)
Theme: We are God's Temple.
Inspiration:
"... O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer which your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel , when they pray toward this place; yes, hear in heaven your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive." (see 1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30)
The above excerpt is an extract from King Solomon's prayer for the dedication of the Temple which is known in history as the First Temple. This text is also recorded in the second book of Chronicles 6:12-42. The Temple here represents the present day Church where we gather every now and then to adore, seek for reconciliation with our God, thanking Him and then supplicate for favours.
The Church of Christ is beyond the physical edifice that we can have contact with, It also has to do with us, as the Scriptures says we are God's temple. (cf. I Corinthians 3:16-17). Here St. Paul reminded us of our true nature as the body of Christ. He went further to challenge us to keep holy this temple as the Spirit dwells in it. For the temple of God is holy, which temple we are. Being Temple of God implies that we are Community of Christ faithful - "the Church" which is a holy dwelling place for God's presence. As such we are obliged to keep the holiness of this temple intact so that when we gather to pray our supplications and offerings may be acceptable before God.
It is against the defilement of this sacred place that aroused the anger of our Lord in the course of His public ministry when He entered the temple He saw what His eyes could not behold, the desecration that took place there and in anger He overthrew the table of the moneychangers and then said: "... it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." (See Matthew: 21:12-14)
Beloved in Christ, how effective is our temple? Does it still carries the Divine fragrance? How do we treat the holiness of the temple -the Church? These and many are pertinent questions we are to answer. In our daily spiritual journey let us be conscious of the fact that we are God's temple thus, we need to keep it holy for our God is holy.
Finally, let us pray to God through the intercession of Ss. Paul Miki and Compannions that our daily efforts be sown for eternal harvest, so that when we call on God He may hear us. Peace! Be with you!
Let us pray
O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 06022024
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