Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The readings for today speak to the need for us to be sincere and authentic in our faith. There is always a temptation that, as Christians, we will fall into a pattern of just paying lip service to Jesus’ teachings. We go to church and participate in the worship there. We affirm what we think we should believe, without thinking too much about it, and without letting it have too much effect on our lives. If that is all that we do, then there is something very important missing.
In the first reading, from the book of Revelation, a magnificent angel bearing a small scroll appears to John. The angel offers the scroll to John and commands him to eat it. John is told that he must eat the scroll first before he begins to prophesy. It will feel unpleasant in his stomach, but it will taste sweet as honey in his mouth. The command that John eat the scroll shows the need for him to internalize the teachings of God so that they become a part of him. In doing so he can effectively communicate with the people to whom he will prophesy. In accepting the scroll, John demonstrates humility before God. He also shows that he is willing to take on the mission that God has given him. Furthermore, he demonstrates his acceptance of God’s teachings and the role that they will play in his life.
In the gospel reading, Luke recounts how Jesus chases the money changers from the temple, saying that they have made the temple of the Lord into a den of thieves. This is a strong warning by Jesus to pay attention to what is holy and to value it for ourselves in the right way. We need to make sure that we always remain aware of the true value of things. By driving out the money changers, Jesus warns of the danger of apathy.
The scripture passage presents Jesus’ followers as a contrast to the money changers. The people are hanging on Jesus’ every word. The gospel writer encourages us to follow their lead, rather than taking the approach of the chief priests and the scribes, who want to do Jesus in.
Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving. In giving thanks for the many ways that we have been blessed by God, let us remain open to understanding his will for us in a new light. Let us also remain open to ways that we can be used by God to bless others. We begin thinking ahead at this time of year towards the beginning of Advent and a new season of the Church year. Let us make our observances during this time truly focus on Jesus. In doing that, we pray that we can live authentically as disciples of Jesus.
- Joel Schickel