JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE AND TEACHES ABOUT PRAYER.

JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE AND TEACHES ABOUT PRAYER. 

"And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; 

and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 

 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 

 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it.

 When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 

 And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." 

And his disciples heard it.

And they came to Jerusalem. 

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, 

and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; 

 and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. 

And he taught, and said to them,

 "Is it not written,

 My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'?

 But you have made it a den of robbers." 

 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him;

 for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 

 And when evening came they went out of the city. 

 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

  And Peter remembered and said to him,

 "Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." 

And Jesus answered them,

 "Have faith in God. 

 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

Be taken up and cast into the sea,'

 and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 

 Therefore I tell you, 

whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 

 And whenever you stand praying, 

forgive, if you have anything against any one;

 so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11: 11 - 26).

The Gospel of today from Mark 11: 11 - 26 presents us a number of teaching points:

- Jesus cleanses the Temple. 

- The Temple officials confront Jesus. 

- Jesus curses the barren fig tree. 

- Jesus teaches about Prayer. 

We choose to comment on Prayer in today's Reflection because of the importance of Prayer in the Teaching Ministry of Jesus and in the life of a Christian. 

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (Cf John 16: 20 - 23).

The promises and teachings of Jesus on Prayer is substantial. Viz:

1. Prayer is a vital necessity. (Luke 18: 1).

2. Pray with expectant faith. (Mark 11: 24).

When you pray with expectant faith about something the Holy Spirit has prompted you to pray about, you get a sure answer.

With repeated experiences, you come to know the truth that Prayer is the Activator of Power. Welcome the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the God in us Who prompts us to pray for something at the right time God is ready to make that gift to us.

I share here two personal experiences about Prayer.

I can say that the joy of answered prayer is an intense joy.

The second thing is that most of the good things I have enjoyed in life have come through Prayer.

Share some of your joys of answered prayers in the COMMENTS. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.  

1. The Holy Spirit's Masterpiece: 

"In Mary, the Holy Spirit found His most perfect dwelling place, fashioning her soul into a sanctuary of pure divine love."

2. Unified in the Passion: 

"Mary offered her Son to the Eternal Father for our salvation, uniting her maternal heart to the supreme sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross."

3. The Power of Her Name:

 "The name of Mary is terrible to the devils, but to the soul that invokes it, it breathes the sweetness of the Holy Spirit and the peace of Jesus."

(ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - THE GLORIES OF MARY). 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1