Keep God's Commandments

03-03-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Aruldoss

Dear people of God,

Good morning to you all. As we continue our journey this season, the readings this third Sunday of Lent, help us understand that we must follow God’s commandments and truly live them in our hearts to find life.

In our First Reading from the Book of Exodus, God delivers the Ten Commandments. He commands to not worship any gods besides Him, “For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God.”

He states that those who do not follow His commands will receive punishment — yet, to those who love the Lord and follow His commands, He will show “mercy down to the thousandth generation.” These commandments, when faithfully followed, help us remain close to God. They are vitally important to our faith. They call us to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. God presents these commandments to us with the freedom to follow them or reject them. If we reject them, we will have to accept the consequences. If we follow them, we begin to understand that these commands are not burdensome but rather liberating.

The gospel of today tells of Jesus cleansing the temple of the money changers who put their own desires above serving the Father. Jesus’ action at the Temple in Jerusalem is recorded in all four Gospels and is often understood to be among the events that led to Jesus’ arrest and Crucifixion. The temple was a sacred space for the Jewish people, and it was meant to be a place of worship and prayer. This act demonstrates His zeal for God's house and rebuking its commercial misuse. Jesus' actions also demonstrate the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the temple and not allowing it to become a marketplace.

In short, both in first reading as well as in the Gospel reading, there is a focus on the centrality of God in our worship and following His Commandments. So, as we march forward this season, let us make efforts to follow our God's commandments wholeheartedly and to seek His mercy.

Have a happy and Blessed Sunday!!