THE WORD ON CLEANING THE TEMPLE

Jesus "entered the temple and began ejecting the traders saying: 'Scripture has it, "My house is meant for a house of prayer" but you have made it "a den of thieves." ' He was teaching in the temple area from day to day." —Luke 19:45-47

Jesus ejected the traders from the temple not only by turning over their tables but also by proclaiming a prophecy from Jeremiah and by teaching every day. The Holy Spirit uses the prophetic word like a "two-edged sword" to judge and purify the reflections and thoughts of our hearts (see Heb 4:12). "If an unbeliever or an uninitiate enters while all are uttering prophecy, he will be taken to task by all and called to account by all, and the secret of his heart will be laid bare" (1 Cor 14:24-25). Jesus makes the Church "holy, purifying her in the bath of water by the power of the word" (Eph 5:26). Jesus said to His apostles: "You are clean already, thanks to the word I have spoken to you" (Jn 15:3).

This book, One Bread, One Body, is one means by which Jesus continues to cleanse the temple, His Church. Consequently, read and pray daily the readings for Mass. Use One Bread, One Body as the Lord leads you. Encourage others to do the same. Let the Church be clean, pure, and holy.

Prayer: Father, make me pure as Jesus is pure (1 Jn 3:3).

Promise: "You must prophesy again for many peoples and nations, languages and kings." —Rv 10:11

Praise: Paul Le-Bao-Tinh, one of the Vietnamese Martyrs, wrote that he was joyful in the midst of his prolonged torments and sufferings because he knew that he was not alone, and that he knew that "Christ is with me" (see Mt 28:20).