Daily Devotional for February 14

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February 14                                                     John 2:13-22

                           "Take these things away;
                     you shall not make God's house
                                a house of trade."

As Jesus sweeps the Temple clean of merchants he causes a
great frenzy among the Jews. With boldness and zeal Jesus
refers to himself as a temple which, if destroyed, shall be raised
in three days. The actions of Jesus serve to refocus faith. In-
stead of a place and a set of religious practices, Jesus makes
the person and the meaning of a relationship with God the
centerpiece of authentic religion.

Reading this passage recalls Isaiah's promise in chapter 56:7,
"... for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all
peoples." Today the promise of Isaiah and the cleansing action
of Jesus have indeed opened the door of God's house to a
multitude of people who were once excluded. Christ has
become the temple all can enter. This inclusive image and its
open invitation to all people has become the power of the
Gospel in our world.

But not only does Christ become a holy temple; the New Testa-
ment goes on to say that our bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:19) Not only has Christ included us,
but we have been chosen in Christ as the dwelling place of
the Spirit. Christ continues today to cleanse the Temple and
restore faith. But now, since I am a temple of the Holy Spirit,
it is my life which is cleansed, renewed, and made the dwell-
ing place of God.

         My God, when I think that you choose to choose
    me, I am overwhelmed. You make me feel desired and
     worthy. In you I find a confidence I could not find from
        the world. I feel both humbled at this thought and
                         exalted. I give you thanks.

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From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.