Weekly Sacred Spaces Video
A Song of Thanksgiving
Living the Gospel Today 
November 20, 2009
Children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, “Take only one, God is watching.” Moving through the line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A boy wrote a note, “Take all you want, God is watching the apples.”
This innocent manipulation of the divine has a sinister application in the Gospel account of the money changers. When Jesus enters the temple and begins to drive out those engaged in selling, he says, “It is written, ’My house shall be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers.”’
Jesus reels against the merchants for three reasons: they abuse the sanctity of the temple; they hide behind the guise of religion to authenticate their sales; and they hike up the prices thereby ripping off the poor.
It’s so seductive to hide behind the appearance of a sanctimonious mission when the true motive is self-centered and deceptive. Sometimes we rationalize this way: As long as the noble task is accomplished, it’s only gravy if my motives align with integrity.
One can remember, for example, others’ names, be thoughtful and warm because one just never knows when those folks can help out. Here’s the problem – suddenly those folks are demeaned to useful property – sort of like, “You never know when that snow shovel will bail you out, so take care of it."
If you sense a mismatch between your deed and your motive, fall back on the advice of Mother Teresa:“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.” Kathleen M. Sullivan ’82MA ’87PhD
Gospel Reading of the Day November 20, 2009
Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written,
“My house shall be a house of prayer”;
but you have made it a den of robbers.’
Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard. Lk 19:45-48
The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today's Prayer November 20, 2009
“My house shall be a house of prayer. These are your words, Lord Jesus, about our presence in a Church or chapel, even a private room, where we can sit or kneel and quietly reflect on your goodness and mercy toward us.
Let me be realistic about myself and my needs: for courage in the face of difficulties, for faith in the presence of doubt and uncertainty, and for confidence in your strengthening grace. Let me not rob myself of these gifts by indifference and merely routine words. Let me know the richness of prayer offered from my heart. Rev. Herbert Yost, CSC
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