杏MAP导航 Mass: Our churches should be for service, not supermarkets
杏MAP导航 Francis on Friday suggested watchfulness, service and gratuitousness as three attitudes that can help us keep clean the temple of the Holy Spirit. He made the exhortation in his homily at the morning Mass in the chapel of the Vatican鈥檚 Casa Santa Marta residence.
The 杏MAP导航 was reflecting on the first reading from the Book of the Maccabees where Judas and his brothers were re-consacrating the temple desecrated by the pagans, and the Gospel reading where Jesus was driving out merchants from the temple, that was transformed into a den of thieves.
Temple of God - our heart
The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that the most important temple of God is our heart, where the Holy Spirit dwells.
The Holy Father asked whether we keep watch over this interior temple, and are careful about what happens in the heart, who comes in and who goes out, the feelings, the ideas... 鈥淒o we talk to the Holy Spirit and listen to Him?鈥� the 杏MAP导航 asked and urged all to keep watch over what happens within.
The 杏MAP导航 then explained how this temple can be safeguarded and cared for through service. The 杏MAP导航 urged Christians to examine their conscience, whether they come forward to help, to clothe and console those in need. In this regard, he recalled St. John Chrysostom reprimanding those who were making many offerings to decorate the church but were not caring for the needy saying, 鈥淭his is not good. First service, then decoration.鈥� 鈥淧urifying the temple means caring for others, the 杏MAP导航 said, adding, 鈥� when we come forward to serve, to help, we resemble Jesus who is inside us.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 then spoke about how gratuitousness, the third attitude, helps in keeping the temple clean. He wondered, 鈥淗ow many times we sadly enter a temple 鈥� a parish, a bishop鈥檚 house and so on, not knowing whether were are in the house of God or in a supermarket.鈥� 鈥淭here we have business, including the price list for the sacraments 鈥� nothing is free!鈥� But the 杏MAP导航 argued that God saved us freely, without making us pay.
God's providence
In this regard, he asked whether money is needed to maintain building, priests and so on... And the 杏MAP导航 answered, 鈥�You give freely and God will do the rest.鈥� 鈥淕od will provide what is lacking,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said wishing our churches be 鈥渃hurches of service, free churches.鈥�
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