GOD’S TEMPLE

We’ve got to straighten up some things about God. Who He is and what He wants for our life. What is our picture of God? It’s not surprising to know that most of us think that God doesn’t want us to have fun. It’s like all the things that we want to do with our friends that are interesting and exciting when we were young was against God’s commandments. It may seem like we have to settle for less. What’s worse is that all the faithful Catholics get less out of life. This is part of the propaganda way back in the Garden of Eden. God gave us a magnificent paradise wherein there is perfect intimacy and no shame with each other. In the Garden they have everything they need but gave just one limit, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is very interesting because God said, “Don’t do this because you will die.” The reason why God commands us something is because He is a loving Father who cares for us. He wants us to have the best. But then came the serpent, he didn’t create Adam & Eve, nor gave the garden or anything at all. All the serpent gave was a lie and told Adam & Eve not to listen to God or they’ll lose out and won’t become like God. They were made to believe that God is holding out something from them and is actually their rival because God doesn’t want them to have what He has. So instead of trusting the one who gave them everything, they trusted a stranger. They doubted and disobeyed God. Instead they listened to the liar. They were hooked into a downward spiral of destruction. This is what sin is all about. It is a trap. It is disguised as an apparent good because the fruit looks good and desirable but it ends in disaster. The relationship with God is messed up and so creation turned against them, thorns and thistles appear and things in life become hard. This is what sin does, it seemed small but it gets out of control. Things get worse and worse and there are broken lives everywhere. This is the reality about sin. We are draining life out of ourselves unless we recognize the One, True and Living God. God is so good that He gave everything we ought to follow and do for our own welfare. All we have to do is really be faithful to Him and His commandments and everything will surely go well with us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Book of Exodus 20,1-17.
Then God delivered all these commandments:
"I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me...


I know that none of us is perfect but through our imperfections we can always run to God for help and guidance. He will never refuse nor forsake us for He can only love and care for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalms 19,8.9.10.11.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The statutes of the LORD are true, all of them just;
More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold, Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb.


There is really nowhere to go but to God for He has unsurpassed wisdom and strength. In Him alone can we depend. Amen. Hallelujah!

First Letter to the Corinthians 1,22-25.
...For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

We are God's temple in other words the house of God so we have to refer to ourselves as a holy dwelling of God. Let us say we start examining ourselves and find out whether God would be pleased to reside in us or would He be angered at what He would see in us. This is the critical question we all have to answer honestly. Have we turned ourselves into a marketplace like that of the one being spoken of in today's gospel. Have we become so materialistic and commercial that all we ever hold on to and treasure in this life are the things like wealth, power, pleasure and fame. These are 4 dangerous things that can make a person bad if not handled properly. It's important we put our moral values in check. Let us be aware of the fact that God will not hesitate to drive out all these ungodly residents in His temple. What kind of God's temple are we? We ought to realize that He is God, Most Holy. Just like what we repeatedly say in our Divine Mercy prayer, Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, this is who He is and could not be anything other than that. If there's anything in us that goes against this holy attributes of God then it's time to do as Jesus did in today's gospel. It's time to clean up though it is not an easy thing to do but we've got to do what we have to do. We've got to make this very clear if we truly want to be with and for God rather than against God. Jesus' disciples have witnessed all His wondrous deeds. Just like them, let's try to look at the things God has blessed us with and we'll find ourselves believing without a single doubt. There is nothing impossible with God. We have a lot of sayings about time like, time heals all wounds, only time can tell, and can it stand the test of time. We really need to subject ourselves to these wise and tested recommendations regarding time. Today's gospel illustrated to us how the apostles of Jesus at a certain period of time were unable to understand fully some of the things that Jesus is telling them. This reminds about the secret of the gospel of Mark which is found several times in his book. It is written, "Don't go tell anyone." Why in the world will Jesus stop them from telling others about the miracles that he had done like healing the leper and restoring the sight of the blind. The explanation given is found in today's gospel because the apostles had to witness the entire thing, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus before they were able to fully understand its full meaning and implication. The same way in our own very lives, we need to go through a certain process or experience within a period of time before we can gain a clear picture of what our life is all about. Jesus' disciples have witnessed all His wondrous deeds. Just like them, let's try to look at the things God has blessed us with and we'll find ourselves believing without a single doubt. We should always recall, remember and never forget what Jesus did for us so that we will always be in touch with Him. There is nothing impossible with God. So if at the present moment we encounter some things in our life that we don't understand very well why it happened or is happening all we have to do is completely trust that God is able to clear things up and make it beautiful in His perfect time. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 2:13-22
13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 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, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.