22 November 2013 - amateurs at the profound

22 November 2013 - amateurs at the profound

The temple is so important in biblical times because it is the place where out of anywhere on earth God is most present.  It is the place where his shekinah glory cloud that is the visible manifestation of his presence comes to rest.  It is the place where the people go to seek his forgiveness and his favor.  That is why Jesus won't let it be compromised.

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
No wonder his disciples think of the verse, "Zeal for your house will consume me" (cf. Joh. 2:17). 
This is why Judas and his brothers go to such lengths to rededicate the temple after it is defiled by the gentiles, as we see in the first reading.  This is why the reconsecration is no small thing.  There are "songs. harps, flutes, and cymbals"  The people celebrate for eight days with joyful "burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise."  This is why it is important that even the facade of the temple reflect some of the glory of the one who dwells within "with gold crowns and shields".  It is such a big deal that it becomes an annual observance.  

It is their love for God "who had given them success" that so moves Judas and his brothers.  It is the filial love of Jesus for his Father that makes him so zealous for the integrity of his dwelling place.

And if the temple is so important, what does that mean about Jesus?  The Father dwells in Jesus in a far more perfect and complete way than the way in which he is present in the temple.  What kind of zeal should we therefore have for his name?  Should we be any slower to make music to our king?  St. Cecilia intercedes for us.  She asks God that we may have joyful songs on our lips and in our hearts to offer him. 

And if Jesus is so important, should we not also honor Mary, the temple in whom he dwells for nine months?  We see that the shekinah glory cloud that covers the temple also comes to cover her as the angel says to her, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (cf. Luk. 1:35).  She is something even more profound than the new temple.  She is the new ark of the covenant.  Just as the ark is central to the old temple and the most profound place of God's presence so is Mary now where God's presence can be found in the person of Jesus.

“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”

Let us come to Mary our mother.  Just as she reveals the presence of Jesus to Elizabeth as she carries him in her womb so too does she still reveal his presence, and therefore the presence of the entire Trinity, to us.   He is the creator of heaven and earth and yet chooses to be found by us in personal and intimate ways.  If our hearts aren't moved to praise the glorious name of our mighty God we should come more fully to the place where his presence is the most profound.  Prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist through Mary can help us to realize his "power and might" and "grandeur and strength" that are found in him alone.  He alone is "exalted as head over all."

We too are meant to be temples of the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19).  May we be like the people listening to Jesus in the Gospel reading who are "hanging on his words".  Then when he cleanses the temples of our hearts of impurity we will not turn aside, "seeking to put him to death".  We will let him have his way in us to make us into fit temples of his presence.