House of Prayer

"It is written, 

'My house shall be 

a house of prayer,' 

but you have made it 

a den of robbers."  

(Luke 19:46)

Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping places of worship holy and dedicated to prayer. This teaches us to respect and honor spaces meant for spiritual activities. It underscores the true purpose of worship spaces—to be places of prayer and communion with God. It calls us to focus on genuine worship and spiritual growth.

By calling the temple a "den of robbers," Jesus condemns the exploitation and corruption that was taking place. This reminds us to act with integrity and avoid using religious or sacred spaces for personal gain. His actions show His zeal for righteousness and justice. It encourages us to stand up against wrongdoing and to strive for purity in our own lives and communities.

Reflecting on this verse can inspire us to maintain the sanctity of our worship practices and to act with integrity in all aspects of our lives. 

In the sacred halls of prayer, 

Where hearts unite in reverent air, 

A house of peace, a place to seek, 

The whispers of the divine, the meek.

Yet shadows crept within these walls, 

Greed and gain, their silent calls, 

A den of robbers, they did make, 

The holy ground, for profit's sake.

But truth and light cannot be dimmed, 

For justice burns with fervent hymn, 

"It is written," the Savior cried, 

"My house of prayer, you have defied."

So let us cleanse our hearts anew, 

With faith and love, in all we do, 

A house of prayer, let it remain, 

In every soul, His holy reign.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your guidance and grace. You have taught us that Your house shall be a house of prayer, a sacred place where we can connect with You and find peace. Yet, we acknowledge that there are times when we have strayed from this purpose, allowing worldly distractions and selfish desires to take over.

Help us to cleanse our hearts and minds, to refocus on what truly matters. May we honor Your house and keep it holy, dedicating it to prayer, worship, and communion with You. Grant us the wisdom to act with integrity and the courage to stand against corruption and exploitation.

Fill us with Your spirit, Lord, so that we may live according to Your will. Let our actions reflect Your love and righteousness, and may we always seek to do what is pleasing in Your sight.

We ask this in Your holy name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Pericope:

VI: The Teaching Ministry in Jerusalem

THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

Luke 19:45-48

Gospel Acclamation

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me,

Gospel | Luke 19:45-48

45 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, 46 saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” 47 And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, 48 but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Reflection Source:

Conversation with Copilot

Strive to be Blameless in Holiness

May the Lord make you increase 

and abound in love for one another and for all 

so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness 

before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus

with all his holy ones. Amen. 

1 THESSALONIANS 3:12-13

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice". (Mt. 23:1-3)

Christ sends you to preach the Gospel, not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside. (1 Cor 1:17-19)

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). God made the wisdom of the world foolish. For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. (1 Cor 1:20-21) The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Cor 1:25).

The Lord brings to naught the plans of nations; He foils the designs of peoples. The plan of the Lord stands forever; the design of His heart, through all generations. (Ps 33:10-11)

"The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Mt 23:11-12) Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. (Ps 128:1-2,4)

Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. The Lord bless you; may you see prosperity all the days of your life. (Ps 128:5)

Give thanks to the Lord for upright is the word of the Lord, and all His works are trustworthy (Ps 33:2,4).

INTIMACY WITH GOD

July 28, 2015 - Tuesday

The original title of this blog is "God Speaks". Inspired by the pericope "Moses' Intimacy with God" as written in Exodus 33:7-23, I decided to change the title to "Intimacy with God".

July 29, 2015 - Wednesday

The Lord confirmed that my inspiration came from His Most Holy Spirit.

Reading today's prayer of Fr. Alex Balatbat in his reflection of the gospel, he wrote, "Lord Jesus, help me to have quality time with You in intimate prayer every day. Allow my heart to remain in You, the only One necessary. Amen."

The kerygma reflection for the first reading wrote, "God wants to have an intimate relationship with us."

PROPERTY FOR LEASE

PRAYER
(Saturday, June 1, 2013)

Lord, I just pray that you will open the doors for me to be able to acquire a property that will both serve as our home and for commercial use. I can not do this on my own, only you can make all things possible for me to do. With much hope and anticipation, gratitude and thanksgiving, I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

GOD SPEAKS
(Monday, June 3, 2013)

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. (Mark 12:1-3)

Lord, thank you so much for inclining your ear to my prayer and petition. I have asked you to give me a property that can be our home and at the same time be of productive use by way of having portions of it leased by tenants.

Today, you have confirmed that what I have asked for in your Name shall be given. You will be the one to build the property for me and you do expect that I will act as a trustworthy steward of such property.

With much hope and anticipation I pray that your heart and wisdom be upon me to understand and acknowledge that all things belong to you and that I am just an instrument of your loving mercy and kindness to your people. Teach me to be prudent in all my ways but generous to those who are in need of your compassion. I belong to you in as much as you belong to me as my Master, Lord, and Father. In Jesus Name, I bring you back all the honor, glory and praise. Amen.

THE LORD IMPUTES NOT GUILT

REFLECTION

In my reflection, I wrote, "Whenever I sin, the good in me always fights back with a loud shout, "you did something wrong!". Then it manifests itself into a sense of guilt that I should remorse or repent from my wrongdoing. I will not feel comfortable until I have accepted my fault and strive to avoid such sins from being committed again. This is the good that is in me, the God who will never allow that I be separated from Him."

GOD SPEAKS

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile.  (Ps 32:1-2)

Going through my Psalms reading, the Lord confirmed my thoughts regarding the word "guilt". He then led me to a scriptural prayer that is very similar to my personal reflection which reads, "Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin." (Ps 32:5)

Lord, truly you know my thoughts even before I pray. I am just glad that your Spirit works in my mind and heart so that I can always be connected to you in my prayers and reflections. I claim your words today that "though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach me.  You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round." (Ps 32:6-7) With my love I ask and pray, in Jesus Name. Amen.

PRAYER

Prayer is not just a bunch of words that you utter before the Lord. It is God's way of revealing to you what you must do. Like Jesus, I usually rise up before the sun rises and it became a habit of mine to read and reflect on God's word. My prayer to the Lord is more of a response to the message or teaching that I have received from Him. (Reflection last Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012).

GOD SPEAKS

Help yourself during this troubled period by reading holy books. This reading provides excellent food for the soul and conduces to great progress along the path of perfection. By no means is it inferior to what we obtain through prayer and holy meditation. In prayer and meditation it is ourselves who speak to the Lord, while in holy reading it is God who speaks to us. Before beginning to read, raise your mind to the Lord and implore Him to guide your mind Himself, to speak to your heart and move your will. -- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Lord, thank you for speaking to me and confirming my thoughts.

ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE

"Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full." -- John 16:24

Father in heaven, in Jesus Name I ask that my Lord be with me always for in Him, nothing is impossible and my joy will always be made full. (Feb. 3, 2012)

GOD SPEAKS

"Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other shall compare with you, all your days" -- 1 Kings 3:11-13 (Feb. 4, 2012)