Sunday, November 9, 2014

Zeal


The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110914.cfm) shows me a different side of Jesus.

We all know Jesus is a very peaceful man.  He is very gentle and loving. He heals people. He feeds people. He teaches people. There are times he gets had at Pharisees but he is not violent. However, in today’s gospel, we see a different side of Him.

Zeal is defined as great energy and enthusiasm in pursuing a cause. And as Jesus was pursuing the cause of spreading God’s kingdom, this is how he reacted to people who disrespected his Father’s place

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.

How about us? Do we also have that zeal to spread God’s kingdom and keep his house clean and respected? Do we even care?

Sometimes we get so engrossed by what we are doing and what we want to happen in life that we forget all about God’s kingdom. Jesus is not asking us to be full time missionaries, but He wants us to care about God’s kingdom. May the busyness of life not make us forget what is essential in life.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love and your blessings. Lord, sorry for the times I forget you, that you take a back seat in my life. May I have Jesus’ zeal for you and your kingdom, that no matter what I do and what happens to me, I may never forget you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-

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