House of Prayer

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'" Lk.19:45,46

Jesus has just entered Jerusalem on a donkey and has been hailed as king by the people. As a king should, he has entered his throne room, the temple, only to find it crowded with money lenders and traders. These he drives out with the authority of a king and re-establishes the purpose of the temple. It is a house of prayer.

I love going to Mass at our Hamilton Cathedral. I've heard a priest say that as Catholics, we build what we believe. The very architecture of a church reinforces our faith. For me this happens at the Cathedral. It is set on a hill with a wide welcoming stairway leading up to it from the street. "Come, let us go up to the House of the Lord".  On passing through the foyer the very first sight that I cannot ignore is a huge Icon of Mary. This encourages me to thank Mary for her "yes" to God's plan for my redemption and then to ask her to interceed for me that I may meet her Son in the Mass I am about to attend. To enter the church proper I must pass a huge baptismal font. Here I ceremonially cleans myself before fully entering the House of Prayer. "Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." . As I kneel  in the pews I look over the alter of transformation where my life is transformed by the presence of Jesus. Behind the altar I see the price of God's love to achieve this transformation, the death of His Son. To the left of the sanctuary I see then tabernacle where His ressurected presence is contained in body, soul and spirit. 

Oh House of Prayer, you are my place of succour. May I always long to enter your gates.
Little Flower, please pray for me.