Faith+ICS+PC215

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 //.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words. ====

=**Summary** = = Jesus went into the temple one day and found that, rather than praying, people were selling things as if they we in the market. Jesus was upset that the people in the temple turned his house into a market, or "a den of thieves". The "leaders of the people" were trying to put him to death but soon found that they couldn't, because of all of His followers. =

=**Reflection** = Jesus was trying to show us that the Church, God's house, is meant for prayer. When we go to the Church or mass today, Jesus wants us to treat the Church as God's house and with respect. We should treat the Church as a place to worship. Also, no matter what happens, there is no place better to talk to God than in Church. We should not go into mass acting like animals, roaming around, and shouting. When we are in mass we shouldn't be thinking about ANYTHING but Him and what\who we are praying for. We should respect God. All of these things are what Jesus wants us to do in Church and is why he was upset to find the temple being used as a market.

We can live out Jesus' teaching by going to mass every Sunday. We can live out this teaching by, when we go to mass, treat God with respect by paying attention to the readings or the Gospel to understand the true meaning of it. Taking this Gospel in a literal meaning, don't sell things in Church! Don't do anything during mass you aren't supposed to be doing. Don't send that last text message to your friends, or make that one phone call for work. We need to live this message because, without it, we can not get closer to God. We understand God and get closer to Him when we listen to His teachings and Gospels, where we do this is in mass. Also, when we are in mass and pay attention, we are showing that we live in God's example.

=**Prayer** = Dear God, Please help me to focus on your word during mass. Help me to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ by attending mass. Show us ways we can live out your teachings. We will treat you with respect and honor. Help us focus, pray to you, and be a full participant. In your name we pray. Amen.

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