Something greater than the temple is here

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 15th Week: Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 12:1-8*

*First Reading : Ex 11:10-12:14*

*Something greater than the temple is here*

*1) Temple for Jews*

Jews considered temple is a important place, where God dwelt 

For them Jerusalem temple was everything. God dwelt in that temple and that's why every Jew would visit the Jerusalem

Such a temple was meant only for Jews. Other could not enter into it. Others had separate place. Where Jews entered others could not go 

*2) Temple politics*

During the time of Jesus such politics was there. 

Today we have worst temple politics than ever. 

Each caste has their own temples and lower caste person can't enter into temple area 

Today we have worst violence in the name of religion and in the name of temple. 

Temple become unholy when a lower caste person enter into it, and there starts a violence

*3) Does God stay only in the temples?*

Today the religion has restricted God into certain place in the temple

There is also the restrictions for entry to enter the temple 

According to the human thinking, God is present only in the temple 

Jesus refutes this thinking and Jesus says there is God outside the temple 

*4) Jesus says He Himself is the Temple and the presence of the Divine*

Jesus is both the temple and the presence of the divine 

So God is not restricted to only temples and certain places. He is found everywhere 

*5) Human body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit*

This is what we read in St  Paul's Letter 

He says *Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit* 1 Cor 6:19

If body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Presence of God is also found in Human being 

*6) We recognise God in temple, but in others?*

All of us find God in the temples and we believe in it and it is true 

But what about in others? We the same people who recognise God in temples, fail to recognise God in others 

This is the biggest crime of the Humanity. As a result we have violence, fights, killings and destruction in the name of God 

Going to the temple and hating the neighbor, and involving in violence in the name of God is a hypocrisy and false spirituality

Am I victim of Such a Spirituality? 

Humanity comes before than devotion and the love for temple

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*