Zeal for your house will consume me ~ Third Sunday of Lent (John 2:13-25)

You can understand why Jesus is angry with those selling goods in the market place. The goods sold in the Temple markets were used in sacrifices so that people could  meet the requirements to be ‘closer’ to God. This model needed challenging. They have turned what should be a place of sacredness into a place where what is important is monetary value and exclusion.  Jesus is ‘overcome’ with fierce love and passion because of the injustice he sees before him. 

What temples have we turned into market places today? Our world is driven by consumerism and profit at the expense of our environment and at the expense of the resources of the world’s poorest people. The Book of Creation is now speaking to us to stop making this house a market place. We don’t have to look too far to see how climate change is having adverse affects on our weather systems here in Ireland and in the poorest regions of the world.

Let us pray this Sunday that ‘zeal for Your house will consume’ us and that we will take the necessary steps to ensure a more sustainable world for all. World leaders are working towards a global treaty on climate change but they are not agreed on how to cut emissions to sufficient levels in order to reduce global temperatures. They need encouragement. 

“May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor”. (Franciscan Blessing) 

Something Different For Lent 3

Third Sunday of Lent ~ 11th March 2012

“Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple…knocked their tables over and said…“stop turning my Father’s house into a market” (John 2:16)

This week we are asking people in the parish to think about solidarity. How can we be in solidarity with the poor, with the oppressed in society, with those who have not? This is week three of your retreat. Can you add a symbol to your sacred space this week to remind yourself of solidarity with the poor? Give yourself time each day this week to reflect, 5, 10, 15 minutes – whatever you can manage.

Prayer suggestions for this week:
1. Breathing exercises: As you have been doing for the past two weeks, focusing on your breathing: take three deep slow breaths, then focus on your normal breathing. Do this for as long as you can. This is the breath of life. Thank God for this gift. Repeat the following:
“Be.
Be Still.
Be still and know.
Be still and know that I am God”
(Psalm 46:10)

2. Gospel reflection: John 2:13-22 “Jesus Cleanses the Temple”.

Read this text 2-3 times. Pick a word/phrase that stands out for you. Repeat that word or phrase to yourself. Why is it significant for you?

Some thoughts on the text:
• Jesus is angry in today’s Gospel: He “scattered the money changers’ coins and knocked over their tables.” What makes you angry? Why?
• We may be surprised at Jesus’ reaction in this Gospel. Surely anger is not a good thing. But neither is indifference when we see things that

are not right.
• What should we be angry about? What injustices do we see around us? In our communities? In our country? In our world?
• What can we do about these injustices? How can we be in solidarity with those who are oppressed, who are poor, who have no voice?
• Situate this story in the context of Lent.

Suggestions for the Week: Trocaire ~ Focus on Uganda

Poverty has many stories and many faces. Christ asks us to be models of solidarity and love. We must act for justice and peace in whatever way we can. But sometimes it appears to be so difficult. How can we live in solidarity with others? Here are some suggestions for this week, for the rest of Lent and beyond!

• Pray for those suffering from poverty, hunger, oppression…
• Support Trocaire through donations if you can.
• Read the information from Trocaire this week: it’s not all about giving money, we need to be AWARE of the situations which affect people. For example: who is the child on the Trocaire box? What is his story?
• Act: there are many ways to support campaigns which affect people in so-called developing countries. See below for details on Trocaire’s action.

Live Lent: welcome Daniel and the people of Northern Uganda into your home this week. How? Well you can start here:

Daniel is the boy on the Trocaire box. He is 9 years old and lives with his

mother Betty, his father Joel and his brothers and sisters in the small rural village of Bar Kwach in Northern Uganda. Daniel was born into civil war. In 2004 soldiers attacked his village, forcing the family to flee. 300 people from his village died in the attack. The family moved to a camp where extreme poverty, poor sanitation and depression were rife. In 2006, when it was safe to do so, Daniel and his family moved back to their home and this is where their biggest struggle began – to begin life again.

Trocaire are working with local partners to better the lives of people in Daniel’s community. This work is the embodiment of Christ on earth today and the true meaning of communion. As the Eucharistic Congress approaches we are asked to be in “communion with Christ and with one another”. This means action for the poorest of our own communities and the world.

Action: Part of Trocaire’s campaign this year is to send an email/letter to your local TD asking them to prioritise small scale farmers in Uganda. You can join the online campaign here:

Thoughts for the Week:
“But it is not God’s will for some to have everything and others to have nothing. That cannot be of God. God’s will is that all his children be happy” (Oscar Romero)

“Anyone who ignores the poor ignores Christ” (St. Francis of Assisi)