Father Daniel Pajerski, LC

John 2: 13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father´s house a marketplace!" His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Introductory Prayer:Heavenly Father, I believe you created me and that you share your life with me by the gift of the Holy Spirit. I want to be a sign of your goodness by the way I imitate your Son, Jesus Christ.

Petition:Lord, help me to welcome you into my heart, and give me the strength to leave aside anything that separates me from you today.

1. Priorities    What importance do we place on worshiping God in our daily lives? Is the day so busy that we don't seem to have much time for him? Jesus reminds us today that God deserves first place in our lives. If we put more importance on personal gain than on our relationship with God, then we need to adjust our priorities. Our love for God is not something that has a price tag. By his example in the Temple, Jesus shows us how deep his love for the Father is, and how strong his concern for the Father's glory.

2. A Sign from Heaven    Sometimes God showed his presence among the chosen people in spectacular ways - as when he parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape from the Egyptians. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the people that the greatest sign of God's presence will be his resurrection from the dead. Eternal life, eternal happiness, is the promise that Jesus holds out to all who love him and who are faithful to him.

3. You Are Near    "He was speaking of the temple of his body." As Christians we believe that Baptism makes us sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. We also become living temples of the Holy Spirit. What a great treasure we possess in our souls through grace! As with any valuable possession, we should take care of this gift. By our kind thoughts, encouraging words, and generous actions, we make ourselves a worthy dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Conversation with Christ:Jesus, through your words and actions, you guide me along the path that leads to heaven. With you at my side I know I will never falter along the way. Remain with me always.

Resolution:I will read the Bible for five minutes today, replacing time that I would normally spend listening to music or using the computer.