SWEET TO MY TASTE
If we approach God with humble, attentive hearts and with a willingness to be taught by Christ, then we are in a good place to allow God's Word to change and transform us into His likeness.
In today's Psalm we hear Israel's great hymn, "How sweet to my taste is Your promise" (Ps 119:103a). Today's Gospel reading narrates Jesus' casting out of the traders from the temple area. Prayer in the temple revolved around the sacrifice of animals, providing them for sale on the premises was an understandable development. Apparently this industry had gotten out of hand, and Jesus had no reservations about throwing out what was taking place on Holy Ground. When religion serves as a vehicle for making money and securing power, then we lose sight of God's mission and things fall apart. God's house is always in need of spring cleaning, to renew and bring new beginnings.
Jesus' act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their wrongful ways. Despite the objections of the religious leaders, no doubt Jesus was usurping their authority in the house of God, the people who listened to Jesus' teaching in the temple regarded Him with great awe and respect. As we hear in Luke's Gospel "They hung upon Jesus' words." How hungry are we for God's Word? If we approach God with humble, attentive hearts and with a willingness to be taught by Christ, then we are in a good place to allow God's Word to change and transform us into His likeness. God's Word will always transform us in His way of love.Today the Church celebrates the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition teaches that Mary was presented in the temple when she was three years old and educated there until she was fifteen. While not recorded in the Bible, this day celebrates God's choice of Mary was as a child, even before the Annunciation. St. Francis of Assisi celebrated Mary with his "Salutation of the Virgin," which includes these lovely acclamations of Mary as the gateway to Jesus:
Hail, His Palace. Hail His Tabernacle. Hail His Robe. Hail, His Handmaid. Hail, His Mother. And Hail, all holy Virtues, Who, by the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that, faithless no longer, they may be made faithful servants of God through you.
I would like to end this reflection with the words of Henri J. M. Nouwen, "What once seemed such a curse has become a blessing. All the agony that threatened to destroy my life now seems like the fertile ground for greater trust, stronger hope, and deeper love."