Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus entering the Temple area, but it was late, so Jesus went to Bethany for the night only to return to the Temple area the next day to drive out the buyers and sellers.   Before Jesus took it upon himself to clear the Temple of business he first paused to look around.  What did he see?  Did he see beauty, as well as distortion?     
 
Often, we act before thinking; we jump in with both feet before we really know what we are landing on. We act as though we know what the real circumstances are. Our actions at time are based on our memory or worse yet, based on how we might prefer to perceive reality.  Pausing and looking again can be difficult.  It might cause us to change our understanding.  Pausing might even cause us to ask for help even from God so that we can see things correctly!
 
In the Gospel today, Jesus asks us to pause but also to persevere in prayer and forgiveness. In fact, it is our willingness to forgive that helps our prayers find their way to God. Jesus pauses today in the Gospel to put into perspective just what the Temple was all about. As Jesus says, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people!”
 
Have a blessed Friday everyone!