Spiritual Corner -- My Life is Where God is Fully Present

Merchants in the outermost court of the Temple often overcharged people who came to the Temple to pray. Livestock that could originally be bought elsewhere at reasonable prices cost twenty times more here. The Temple authorities appointed inspectors to examine the livestock for sacrifice and, according to Jewish law, sacrifice livestock must be without flaw. Livestock bought elsewhere would not pass the inspection for sure, so the pilgrims could only buy them in the Temple at higher prices.

The money changers played similar tricks. As the pilgrims had come from various parts of the world, they had to change their money into Jewish coins for paying Temple tax, because foreign money were regarded as impure and would not be accepted by God. The money changers, therefore, would charge very high fees for money exchange to satisfy their greed.

Jesus was angry at those who were responsible for turning the Temple, the house of prayer, into a marketplace of buying and selling, of profits and losses. Out of His zealous passion for the House of God, He drove the merchants out so that it could once again be a true meeting place between God and people.

As we approach the third week of Lent, let us once again be reminded that our life today is a temple, a House of God, a sacred space where God dwells.

People whom we meet in our journey of life need to see and meet God in us. Therefore, perhaps the temple of our life is in need of cleansing and purifying from unhealthy habits, attitudes and behaviours that do not reflect the presence of God's love in us.

Let us allow Jesus to enter into our lives and renew our hearts and minds with His love.

Yours,
Fr. Philip Tan