My House shall be called a house of prayer!

Thinking about where we have been, where we are now and where we are heading can provide a somber period of reflection for us vis-a-vis our relationship with God. The popular saying, ‘If it aint broke don’t fix it’ rings true for those us who find fault with everything and want to fix it all including the way we behave in the house of God. In this post I want to reflect briefly on our way of being in God’s house.

In Isaiah 56:1 we read these sacred words: “Thus says the Lord: observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” The prophet, speaking for God, called the children of Israel to do the one thing that is seemingly easy, observe, and see the right thing and do just that. He also exhorts them to do what is just. Here is where the problem lies with us. We know from observation what should be done in our Church and in our community to make sure that everyone enjoys the enormous wealth that God our heavenly father has blessed the universe with. But do we do it? Oh no!

Let us observe for a while our way of being in God’s house. When I was young, I was taught that when I entered a Church and observed the sanctuary lamp burning, that meant that Christ was present in the tabernacle, that I should genuflect, that is go down on one knee. I was also told to bow my head in prayer and to be quiet. On passing the church, I was taught that I should bow my head and bless myself. This, I was told was because God was always present in his house. I was also taught that it was a good practice to stop by in Church during the day for a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament. On Sundays I had to wake up and get ready for Mass, I was to eat nothing till I returned from Mass. My Sunday best was to have been washed and ironed on Saturday so that I would look neat and tidy in Church. This too was a good practice. Now can you imagine what is happening in our church? Sometimes when I enter some of our Churches I often have the feeling that I am at a theater waiting to watch a film. There is so much noise that it makes praying difficult if not impossible. And yet we read in the same chapter quoted above, in verses 4-7 these eternal words: “For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths and choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name. Better than sons and daughters; and eternal, imperishable name will I give them. And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, Loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants - all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, they, I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Now that is the Word of God, powerful and invincible.

In Matthew 21:12-13, we read of how Christ went into the temple and “drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money- changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And he said to them, “it is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.” With the amount of buying and selling that goes on in our churches how do you think Christ would feel if he were to come in to worship with us today? I am sure he will repeat what he did many years ago, overturn our tables and drive us out of his church.

The Church is the one place designated for the exclusive use for praising God and his name. If our president or governor were to visit us, we would do everything in our power to be available and I am sure we would comport ourselves appropriately in their presence. Why can’t we do the same for God who is above and beyond any earthly king and queen? Why do we turn our Churches into social gathering places instead of places for prayer and worship? Matthew once again warns us, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” ‘Familiarity’, they say, ‘breeds contempt’, this should not be so with things pertaining to God. If we are to receive blessings from God, we must conduct ourselves accordingly and give him the homage, adoration and honor due him in his house. That is not too much to ask. I think.