The story is told about a preacher who wanted to stress the importance of fasting and abstinence during Lent. Seeing that many in his congregation were well-fed, even overfed, he started his homily by saying: “Remember, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, not cathedrals or basilicas!”
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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 2, 13-25), Jesus cleansed the temple area of vendors and money-changers who had made His Father’s house a marketplace, and this He did with passion and zeal. In clear terms, He sent the message that no one can make a mockery out of God and out of God’s house.
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Recently, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of the Archdiocese of Manila made some remarks toward the cleansing of wedding ceremonies of too much drama and frivolity. I totally agree, having been a witness to many “gimmicks” to make the wedding unique and memorable. Fine. But, as someone said, the wedding is for a day while the marriage is for a lifetime.
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Wedding coordinators have come into the picture recently. It has become a lucrative business and industry. Perhaps the Church should come out with clear guidelines so as to avoid abuses and excesses; otherwise, our churches can become marketplaces or showrooms for riches, luxury and fashion.
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The executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government urgently need cleansing of corrupt, nonperforming, arrogant and self-serving members who have made business out of their so-called public service. Whoa! Who of them have become poorer as a result of their being public servants? Who of them have really sacrificed for the good of our nation? Can we not have leaders who are not thieves?
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Some friends of mine have suggested that we give up ARMS during the season of Lent, i.e., Alcohol, Rice, Meat and Sweets. I suppose all of us can do something along this line, each according to his/her needs or situation. Whatever, the discipline of our bodies should lead us to openness to the divine.
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Fasting and abstinence, and the whole discipline of Lent, are not just a devotion to make us closer to God, but to put us in solidarity with the poor. Whatever money we save because we abstained or fasted should be given to the poor and the needy. That is the kind of fasting and abstinence that makes God in heaven above smile.
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On a personal note, may the Lord cleanse our hearts of selfishness, and also of apathy, cynicism and hopelessness. Let us not give up on ourselves, and on others. One of the best prayers to say whenever we can’t fix ourselves, we can’t fix others, or we can’t fix the situation is simply: Lord, help!
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I experienced the Lord’s presence and power at the Lenten recollection organized by our Pink Sisters in New Washington, Aklan, last March 4. The church was too small for the crowd of more than 2,000 who attended, so tents were set up. It started to drizzle in the afternoon. At that point, I asked everybody to pray that it would not rain. In the silence that ensued, we heard the raindrops slowly stop, and the crowd erupted in grateful applause. In my heart, I praised God for the deep faith of the people, and I asked Him to cleanse me of my unbelief and doubt.
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Blind girl Fatima Soriano has shown me what true worship is. Whenever she rides in an airplane, she holds on to a little statue of Jesus and Mama Mary. Unable to see, and sensitive to every little movement or sound, she just totally entrusts everything. In her helplessness and in her purity of heart, she just surrenders her entire being. That is true worship from the heart.
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Here is a prayer that can cleanse us of stress. Whenever there is a concern, a pressure, or hurt, just continuously and prayerfully say: Jesus, I trust in You! Mama Mary, I love you! In no time at all, it helps us focus on the presence of a loving God, and a loving Mother. Try it. It works!
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To cleanse us of anger and pride toward other people, try the Hindu “Namaste” greeting with a matching bow wherein we acknowledge the presence of God in people. Somehow, it reminds us to be respectful, to be compassionate, and to be loving. It helps us to remember that Jesus is in every person and makes us realize what He told us – that whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do it unto Him. Try it. It really works.
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Here are some cleansing tips for a happy life: “1. More grill, less fried. 2. More vinegar, less salt. 3. More fruits, less sweets. 4. More chewing, less eating. 5. More water, less soda. 6. More deeds, less words. 7. More sharing, less desires. 8. More walks, less rides. 9. More laughter, less anger. 10. More prayers, less worries.”
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Think about this: “Make change while you still have a chance. There will come a time when there will be a lot of room for changes, but there may be no more chances.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, cleanse us of whatever selfishness, impurities and pride. Amen.