Layers of the Heart

The message of today's readings and Gospel were powerful, beautiful and relevant. This is not to say that other daily readings or Gospel messages are not powerful, beautiful or even relevant to today. Today's message revolves around the temple of God and being God's building, His dwelling place. When I think of being a temple of God it can be daunting or surreal. I think it should mostly show in our actions, the way we present ourselves and where our hearts lie. In all, we are called to be holy..."For the temple of God, which you are, is holy" (St. Paul to the Corinthians). Buildings and structures relates to the catastrophe of the fires burning in Northern California, and the fact that many have lost their resting place and homes due to this natural disaster.

The Gospel reading for today was about Jesus becoming angry with people selling merchandise and earning money outside His father's house. "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' " (Gospel of John).

It would be easy to believe that only these things happened during Jesus' time. However, our own times has its own issues and occurrences of this. The priest at Mass today mentioned 'distractions like the tablet or phone that sucks us in and draws our focus further away from God'. He stated that 'God is begging for our attention now more than ever due to the distractions that we face in our world'. Where are our hearts leading us is a question we all need to ask ourselves. God is more focused on our hearts and what is there rather than what is on our screen. He is seeking and desiring our full attention despite all the noise in the world.

I admit it can be difficult to skew away from this noise and various distractions. Recently, I took a step back and reflected on why I follow the people that I do on social media. What's the meaning or purpose behind it since they are not in my life directly and do not know them personally either. It was a good reflection and to ask myself the qualities that I like in them or the content they bring out. I noticed the time away from the screen and Instagram posts alike. I felt liberated, free and refreshed, closer to prayer, and more intentional and simple. I think its good to step away from these everyday routines and social media platforms but I also think it's okay and healthy to have a balance and still use it but in strict moderation, at least speaking for myself. 

Though there may not be vendors and others selling secular goods right outside God's house, our hearts and time may be feeding into that more than necessary. While I was in Rio de Janerio for a study abroad program back in 2016, I wasn't able to go to Mass on a Sunday due to schedule conflicts and the safety and proximity of getting to a Catholic Church. On one of these Sundays, most people in my group and I went to a 'hippie fair' and it was just as the Gospel described, many vendors selling merchandise that was appealing to the eye for tourists such as t-shirts, magnets, jewelry, clothing, paintings, ect... I couldn't get to Mass on one of these Sundays and I felt the emptiness inside in not receiving the Eucharist and the Sacrament of the Word. Luckily, I was able to attend and figured out a Mass time and place the following Sunday. :)

Furthermore, the only concert that I have gone to with a 'friend' was at a then sanctuary or Church and became to be used as a concert hall or for other events. It was fine overall, but deep in my heart it was personal because this place of worship was now a place of worship for worldly things and attractions that were beyond and far from the peace and joy of the heart for many.

Lastly, one of my favorite songs from Audrey Assad is 'The House your Building'. It speaks to the heart of what God has planned for our lives, and how we can submit and will that plan for our lives as well. "A homeless stranger/ I've been wandering/ All my life you've been calling me/ To a home you know I've been needing. I'm a broken stone /So lay me in the house you're building. "