THE LAW, THE TEMPLE AND THE ONE TRUE GOD

The Law, the Temple and the One True God

I have come to understand that it is so easy to forget who God is and how much He enters our lives daily. Every day He longs for us to enter ever more deeply into His “words of everlasting life.”  We may not intend to ignore this invitation, but like the ancient Israelites, our vision at times is not always as it should be. Today’s readings tell us about this by emphasizing the importance of the Law and the Temple.

Taking time once a week at Mass (or more) to be with God’s purity, strength, wisdom and clarity starts by following the commandments laid out in today’s first reading.  In that reading we hear that God wants us to be close to Him, and we are cautioned not to put any unnecessary obstacles between us and Him which obscure that bond. That is what the “rules” are about. They are not arbitrary restrictions, nor about punishment. They are about rightly ordering our lives to God.

Then in today’s Gospel about Jesus cleansing the temple, we see what can happen when our lives are not rightly ordered to God and instead obstacles are in our way. If we are in that place, it might be better for us to tear down the structure and build anew.

I had a co-worker early on who was trying to reset her life and get on a better path. I was asked to accompany her to her church, a non-denominational Christian church, to show support.  While the service had similarities to parts of our liturgy and they had a parish community meeting afterwards, it was what happened prior to the service that was troubling: Those attending were urged to get up and go to a gift shop and purchase items. This was announced over loudspeakers to the congregation, and I was later told that it always started like that. Like the distractions undoubtedly caused by the money changers in the Temple, I found it quite difficult to start praying knowing that the first thing asked of us was a marketplace transaction. It just seemed so commercial and unfocused as to why that building existed in the first place.  

The one true God wants us to follow Him and His laws. And Jesus wants to help us clear any obstacles getting in our way. As today’s responsorial psalm says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple” (Ps 19:8). 

–Michael De Leonardis

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.