Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel:

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written,
My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.

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Jesus “drove out” the money changers from the temple.

This verb “to drive out” – ekballo – is the same verb used to describe the exorcism of demons. These money changers are like unclean spirits, profaning the house of God.

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Notice the symbolism here. Both good and evil are at work in the temple.

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Unfortunately, that’s true everywhere in the world – good and evil intermingle in governments, workplaces, even houses of worship.

As one Russian novelist put it, “If only it were so easy. But the dividing line between good and evil cuts through every human heart. And who wants to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

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As we prepare for Advent – the coming of the Lord into our world – perhaps we should consider those areas in our own lives where we need Jesus to cast something unclean out.

Whether it’s a particular habit, a temptation, an attitude, or a residual grudge. 

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Just as Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple – so he has the power to drive out whatever is unclean in us, particularly through prayer and the sacrament of confession.

If I’m a Catholic, when was the last time I went to confession? Do I believe I’ve outgrown the sacrament? Or will I go before he comes again?

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Gospel:

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

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For the last three years, Jesus has exercised his public ministry. 

He’s forgiven sins, healed the sick, and even raised Lazarus from the dead. At one point, they crowds following him were so large they nearly trampled him to death.

But now his ministry is coming crashing to an end. He’s about to enter Jerusalem, the place where he’ll be killed.

From the very beginning, however, Jesus warned his disciples that this day was coming.

Now he’s just a week away.

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Consider what that means.

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For at least one thousand days, Jesus carried this knowledge in his heart that his public ministry will lead to his death.

And yet, he doesn’t turn away from it. He embraces it.

He perseveres to the end.

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Perhaps this is why he says to us, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus knows what it feels like to carry a heavy burden. He shows us how to persevere in times of trial through prayer and unrelenting confidence in his Father.

With Jesus by our side, we, too, can persevere through whatever life throws at us.

So, what burdens am I carrying that I might want to share with him?

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Let us pray.

Father, we lift up all who find themselves heavy burdened this day. May they persevere like Jesus, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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There’s an old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

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This is certainly true with languages.

For example, I spent ten years diligently studying Spanish until I became fluent. I was even reading Spanish newspapers and singing along with Mexican rock bands.

But, unfortunately, I haven’t spoken the language in a decade. Now I’d struggle to form a simple sentence!

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If you don’t use it, you lose it.

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The same is true with faith. 

We must study it, test it, practice it like a foreign language. The harder we try, the holier – and happier – we become.

But if we don’t use it, we lose it.

There’s no such thing as standing idle in the Christian life. Faith either grows or shrinks.

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So, what is my spiritual life like? Have I become complacent during this pandemic? 

Or, in spite of COVID and all of the regulations it inspires, have I found ways to deepen my relationship with Jesus?

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“To everyone who has,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “more will be given. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:27).

Meaning, put your faith into practice. 

“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

So, how will I put my faith into practice today?

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