Today Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem and then He and the disciples continued on to Bethany.  When Jesus and the disciples left Bethany the next day, Jesus realized He was hungry.  He saw a fig tree and went over to see if there were any ripe figs on the tree. If they had been ripe, they would have satisfied His hunger for a period of time.

When Jesus got to the tree, however, there were no figs, only leaves even though it was the season for figs to grow.  Jesus then did something very unusual.  When he realized that the tree had no figs, he said: “No one will ever again eat your fruit!”   Then Jesus and his disciples travelled on to Jerusalem.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they immediately went to the temple. When they entered the temple area, Jesus was stunned and then outraged.  In the holy Temple, there were money-changers plying their trade.  Merchants were selling doves for sacrifice.  The temple no longer was a temple:  it had become a market place!   In a loud voice, Jesus said to his disciples: “My house is to be called a house of prayer!”

When we enter the Church, do we sense the Divine Presence?   The Lord is there,  present in the Holy  Tabernacle.  The red Sanctuary  Lamp  which  is  alight  all the time tells us this.  When we next come to Church do we enter as we would a Holy place or is it just another building.  Do we enter with reverence and respect?   If we are present, awake, and open,  we surely will encounter the Divine there!      “My house is to be called a house of prayer!”

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