Today’s Scripture Readings

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written,
“My house shall be a house of prayer”;
but you have made it a den of robbers.’

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Over the course of centuries, our ancestors supported the construction of Churches as central to the life of the faithful who would gather in various neighbourhoods. These places often became central to the life of the community and often reflected the importance of God’s presence in the daily life of the community. The faith communities would gather on Sundays, and throughout the week, many people would gather for prayer and other celebrations of the liturgy. Significant moments like baptisms, marriages, funerals were celebrated in these places of God, as well as the celebration of Eucharist on Sundays and throughout the week.

Are our churches today, places of welcome for all peoples? Are they places of prayer, places for people of all faiths to gather? Are people confident that God is with them whether in the quiet moments of prayer and reflection or being present with the assembly gathered to praise and give thanks to God through the public prayer of the Church – the liturgy of the Church?

The House of God is a House of Prayer!