We continue our journey the as we walk the pilgrim way of Lent third Sunday in L Sunday Sunday Holy Week okay so continue to prepare your hearts and minds and go through Holy Week but we always look to Easter through Holy Week to Easter ending okay new life that’s what God
Intents for all for everyone is to have his life gospel also reflects that God’s intention for all to have life gopel uh tells the story of what is known as the cleansing of the Temple vendors money changers Etc understand what the message is of the story the bottom line
Is we we are the temple of God okay what was happening in the temple at that time so understand that the original intention of God for the temple is similar to what Eden was put your finger on that we’ll get back to that later Temple Isaiah by the way Isaiah
Jesus my house shall be a house of prayer for all nations Isaiah uh my house will be a house for all nations Nations gentiles Gentiles and it’s no different than the thinking of many Christians today we are Christians others we don’t call them Gentiles we call them
Unbelievers only we are favored by God they are cursed we are blessed they are cursed we’re chosen ah too bad for them we’re going to heaven they’re going to hell thinking but the temple was meant to be a house of prayer for all nations which means it’s just a starting
Point par Eden Eden was not intended to be to be one place on on Earth so that it’s only there it’s Paradise outside it’s not no no no no and God Adam and Eve start there and then spread that paradise subdue the Earth multiply and that’s what the church is
That was the that’s what the temple was that’s what the church is a starting point so that all may receive the blessing of God Abraham through you what all nations will be be blessed through you always like that okay understand that what what was intended for inclusion became now a symbol of excl
Exclusion of discrimination of classification of stratification temp holy of holies only one person once a year can enter that place and then there’s uh the holy place no and then there’s another place only for the Jews male Jews female you’re less than men you’re more in number but you’re
Less in status but after that there’s the court of the Gentiles in Gentiles May classification male Gentiles female Gentiles general admission bleachers and that’s what Jesus is is trying is destroying that thinking that I’m better than you pH thinking Lord you know they the Pharisee in the parable sincerely taught that good for
Him forgetting that he is a starting point God in Christ became man and he is not ashamed to call all of us Brothers we’re all Brothers of his at first I would like to call us second born there are others that must be born again after us
Right what others think no we’re the one through church only we will be saved meantime 40 plus th000 other denominations say the same thing or the one true church I’ve wasted my time preparing my notes yesterday I’m saying something different I I’m I’m going to preempt myself uh
Tomorrow this is the what I intend to to share in the homy for morning Mass it’s out of uh the Old Testament reading for Daily Office for tomorrow and it’s about it’s the story of Joseph and his brothers right second inpt Jacob I don’t know if he had daughters
Brother he was just scheming he knows what he’s doing right so bu Benjamin again he was just he was uh he was just doing something to uh to play with them or whatever but he he wasn’t intending to hurt them in fact he finally revealed himself to them that he was their their
Brother Joseph leave Benjamin behind Judah remember these brothers they turned from selling their own brother to now willing to give their life for the sake of their brother right and they repented from that now Judah how can I go back to my father safe and sound without my
Brother it will kill him it will break his heart it will kill him again the intention of God the Father which Joseph represents I mean Jacob represents his his heart is for all to be saved for not one to perish Jacob wanted all of his sons to return back home to him safely
Saved it will break his heart understand that and Judah understood that he said how can I go back to my father’s presence without my brother see that’s how Christians think today or not think today what they do what they understand is salvation is personal and individual as long as I’m saved
Good we should ask the same question as Judah how can I go into the presence of my father without my brother Lord I love you with all my heart soul mind and strength and God will ask where’s your brother did you love your brother as yourself you wanted to be safe and sound
And saved about your brother salvation actually is being like Jesus saved from our sins turned toward self and and that’s what become of what has become of Salvation is turned from uh to self we’re saved from that to being like Jesus Jesus who would not leave Hell Without first emptying
It Orthodox mon I’ve said this many times before I think but it’s worth repeating he said you can be certain you can be assured that as long as there is somebody in Hell Christ will remain there with him I I I mentioned something that that is bordering on heresy earlier in the devotion
Actually of course he died once and for all right I’m I’m talking about his attitude he would give his life for the last soul to be saved so understand that Temple exclusively we were made aware that our brothers don’t know God then to know God and to to whom
To those who don’t know him to know God okay no God I know you already I’ve loved you with all my heart soul mind and strength okay but Jesus said the second commandment is like it is as important as it is so message cleansing of the temple no see
In in Ephesians chapter 2 and you can show the the scripture on screen Jesus died on the cross for this purpose to create in himself one new Humanity out of the two Jews and Gentiles exclusive no no no Christ died so that all will be one new Humanity thus making
Peace and in one body to reconcile both to God through the cross on which he put to death their hostility their enmity their hatred their division instead we should have his humility his attitude of even if that’s a big if even if I seem to be better than others no I
Humbly lay my life down for them the one person the one man who made the grade who is worthy who is sinless who is worthy to to stand in the presence of God only one man Jesus Christ join the sinful Brothers enter the Waters of baptism to
Be baptized together with them so that he can be one with them and save all of them that’s the heart of our God St Paul don’t tear down the work of God the work of God is Jesus through Jesus is make all one right don’t tear down the work of
God based on your standards no no no God Jesus already made everyone one equal don’t tear them down don’t tear down the work of God just because you have biases in your mind unworthy 65 I’m passing grade 75 so it’s useless for you to I’m better than my
Classmate almighty God you know that we don’t have power in ourselves to help ourselves we don’t have the ability to pass the test only the grace of God enables us to do that so understand everyone is a child of God everyone is a brother for whom Jesus
Died and their worth is not measured by how much money they have their sex their uh race even their IQ our worth is determined this we are the apple of God’s eye we are his beloved that’s it all of us all of us enjoy that benefit all of us so instead of tearing
Down build up St Paul let no harmful word come out of your mouth mouth but only such as is necessary for the need of the moment such as edifies and gives Grace it is the devil who puts people on a guilt trip there will be great the people who
Are greater in the kingdom of God the greatest in the kingdom of God is this and that no no no our reward our all of us will will be are included in the family of God I believe our reward is if we humble ourselves if we love our brothers our reward will be
More joy for us we discover the joy of being like Jesus of laying down our life for our brother as far as Grace is concerned all of us have been given Grace sure as thy truth shall last to Zion shall be given the brightest superlative the brightest glories Earth
Can yield or can give and brighter still the Bliss of heaven so cleansing the temple Le is Jesus transforming his true Temple we from being exclusive and hierarchical to being exclusive and loving to being like him so no more borders no more barriers no more division like the French say Lial fraternity freedom
Equality and Brotherhood we start in the church actually I would say further start in the local church for right could it be that that that that’s the reason so you I want to show what what I quoted earlier Isaiah chapter 56 it’s God saying I will bring to my
Holy Mountain to Zion to Eden to Paradise to Heaven if you want to use that word I will bring to my Holy Mountain Gentiles new Gentiles I will bring to my Holy Mountain that’s Unthinkable to a Jew unuk those with crushed testicles cannot minister at the altar we don’t inspect
Our altar ministers okay by the way in the Old Testament CR men with crushed testicles could not enter into the altar area and minister to God flow uh Bas I will bring to my Holy Mountain their offerings will be acceptable to me I will welcome them their offerings will
Be acceptable to me for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations for all Gentiles and they can be full members just as Jews are members so don’t be like the brother of the prodal son you treat me you treat him as my equal
And father says yes as far as my love is concerned yes your standards that there’s we have no place for your standards in the kingdom of God kingdom of God there’s just love for all so don’t be like that that prod the brother of The Prodigal Son but be like
Jesus have compassion bring people near reconcile them to God because we’re not judges we’re not separatists we’re ambassadors of of what reconciliation ambassadors of reconciliation okay to reconcile everyone to God remember we are Zion a symbol a symbol of what a symbol of God’s plan to for everyone to be
Included for everyone to know God that’s our calling and that’s the way it is in the Kingdom of our God
source
