Remember where you are

In today's Gospel (John 2:13-22) we hear an account of our Lord's “Cleansing of the Temple.”

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.

Why were they changing money and selling animals there? Simple practicality: animal sacrifices were essential in the worship of God in the temple at that time and people could generally not use the currency they carried with them (especially since they were coming from all parts of the known world).

Likewise when you and I enter our places of worship, there are often many practical and social necessities that rightfully require our attention.

Our Lord's admonition to the moneychangers is a challenge also to us: to focus as much as possible on the worship of God when we are in our places of worship and to avoid making our Father's house a marketplace or a chat room or just a normal place for everyday life.

Whenever we come before the Lord to worship may we always be mindful of our being in the holy dwelling of the Most High.