The Word of the Lord is sweet to the taste, for it is filled to the brim with love. Love not as an emotion but the Will of Good for us. His Word convicts us to be purified within, transfigured through our repentance and His grace. So too, we must pursue fraternal correction of one another in love, to grow in spiritual maturity and holiness. Some of us may even be called to lay down their lives one way or another for His glory.
Church is where we congregate as One, to pray, worship, receive His Holy Word, His will for us. Most of all, His Body, blood, soul and divinity through the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Every part of Church whether the basement, the rooms, or car park is on Sacred ground. For Church grounds are dedicated to our Lord. Is it not a house prayer regardless of the location on church grounds? Why then would it be alright to allow any lottery of sorts on Hallowed ground? Game of chance involving money? We need to bear in mind that the Lord is present how then should we revere Him?
Saint Cecilia, pray for us…
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First reading
Apocalypse 10:8-11 ·
I was told to swallow the scroll, and to prophesy
I, John, heard the voice I had heard from heaven speaking to me again. ‘Go,’ it said ‘and take that open scroll out of the hand of the angel standing on sea and land.’ I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll, and he said, ‘Take it and eat it; it will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.’ So I took it out of the angel’s hand, and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You are to prophesy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors.’
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Gospel
Luke 19:45-48
You have turned God’s house into a robbers’ den
Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’
He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.
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