Daily Retreat 11/24/06
2006 Nov 24 Fri: Andrew Dung-Lac, p, mt, & co., mts M
Rv 10: 8-11/ Ps 118(119): 14. 24. 72. 103. 111. 131/ Lk 19: 45-48
From today’s readings: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.... How sweet to my taste is Your promise!... My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves....”
Observing the House of Prayer
The Temple in Jerusalem was erected as a house of prayer, and only gradually was it profaned by encroaching worldly interests. Sadly, today, many of God’s houses of prayer have been similarly compromised - not necessarily always with commercial ventures, but at least with clearly secular influences.
For example, whether before or after Mass, whenever people get caught up chatting in church with neighbors about sports and weather, there’s something wrong - God’s house of prayer has been demoted to a public house. For prayer means talking and listening to God, but that can be rather difficult when people are busy talking and listening to neighbors about merely mundane matters.
It comes down to how seriously the Word of God is taken. How important are the words of Christ to you? Is it ever possible that news and gossip and chatter from your friends is more urgent than the Lord’s Good News? Are all His words just plain words like any other words, some striking, others superfluous? Or, do you personally know the One speaks them, and so hang on to His every word, reverently recognizing His Real Presence in His house of prayer?
Rv 10: 8-11/ Ps 118(119): 14. 24. 72. 103. 111. 131/ Lk 19: 45-48
From today’s readings: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.... How sweet to my taste is Your promise!... My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves....”
Observing the House of Prayer
The Temple in Jerusalem was erected as a house of prayer, and only gradually was it profaned by encroaching worldly interests. Sadly, today, many of God’s houses of prayer have been similarly compromised - not necessarily always with commercial ventures, but at least with clearly secular influences.
For example, whether before or after Mass, whenever people get caught up chatting in church with neighbors about sports and weather, there’s something wrong - God’s house of prayer has been demoted to a public house. For prayer means talking and listening to God, but that can be rather difficult when people are busy talking and listening to neighbors about merely mundane matters.
It comes down to how seriously the Word of God is taken. How important are the words of Christ to you? Is it ever possible that news and gossip and chatter from your friends is more urgent than the Lord’s Good News? Are all His words just plain words like any other words, some striking, others superfluous? Or, do you personally know the One speaks them, and so hang on to His every word, reverently recognizing His Real Presence in His house of prayer?
posted by FrPitstick | 11/22/2006
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