Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” John 2:13-22
32nd Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle c
Today we celebrate the dedication of St. John Lateran in Rome. As cathedral (from the Greek word cathedra which means seat or throne) it is the church of the pope as bishop of Rome. It was originally belonging to the Laterani – a high-ranking family in service to several Roman emperors. It has two patron saints, namely John the Baptist and John the apostle and evangelist as depicted by their statues flanking that of Jesus Christ of top of the church facade. For a time it had been a garrison for the Roman troops before being given to the pope in 324 by Constantine the first catholic emperor. Thus this year it celebrates its 1,700 founding jubilee.
Why do we get angry every time we witness something bad? It is because God who is all good created us. Our good nature rebels every time it sees anything bad. It is right to be angry in this way because Jesus Himself got mad and even drove out the vendors when they transform the temple into a market place. His anger is just.
When we see corruption, we should be mad. This is just. When we hear lies instead of the truth, we should protest. This is right. The devil is the father of lies. Those who lie are Satan’s minions that must be fought by those on the side of Jesus.
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