Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Intention: That all people will learn how to come together in generosity and trust to restore our spirit of community.
Today’s Gospel | John 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 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. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. 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.
From the Tenth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
You must not be satisfied with keeping the children in your care from doing evil. You must also lead them to practice well all the good of which they are capable. Take care of this, then, and see to it that they always speak the truth and that when they want to affirm something, they limit themselves to saying that it is or is not so.
You must encourage them, in accord with the teaching of Jesus Christ, not only to be satisfied with doing good actions but also to avoid doing them before others in order to be esteemed and honored, because those who act this way have already received their reward.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you are the creator of all things. Everything and everyone is a reflection of your love and perfection. Still, we often corrupt this goodness with words and actions that disrespect or take advantage of others. Lord, help us to see the sacredness in every person. Teach us to care for each other as temples of your presence and give to each other reverence and love. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.