Friday - 33rd Week of OT 2017 - Post-Thanksgiving Housecleaning

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, filled with gratitude for the manifold gifts of God, good food, conversation, and time with family and friends. For many, the day after Thanksgiving has one important task, cleaning up after the big feast—not everyone’s favorite chore, but it must be done.

Both of the scripture readings today speak of another sort of housecleaning. From the book of Maccabees, we heard of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers returning to the Temple to cleanse it of the abominations which the enemies of Israel had constructed there. They undertook the resanctification of the desecrated Temple by engaging in ritual prayer, song, praise, repairing damage, decoration, that the Temple might be rededicated to the purposes of God.

Today, the post-thanksgiving house cleaning involves putting the house back into order. Hopefully, not to many repairs are needed. Many will begin to put up their Advent and Christmas decorations, and begin to play Christmas music. They dedicate their homes for being a place where Christmas is celebrated.

Our Lord in the Gospel, also undertook some housecleaning. It had been two hundred years since Judas Maccabeus had rededicated the temple, and once again it had become filled with corruption. So, our Lord took it upon himself to drive out the corruption from the Temple.

These two scenes are reminders that God wishes to drive out the corruption of sin and selfishness from humanity and from our individual souls.

As we are cleaning and decorating our homes today, let us remember that more important is that our souls are cleansed and purified through repentance, that our souls be adorned and ornamented with virtues of generosity towards the poor, self-control, and prayerfulness.

The changing of a liturgical season is always a good time to do some self-examination of our spiritual lives. It is a good time to make a good confession. Today is a good day for ensuring that the Temple of our life is truly a house of prayer; so it’s a good day to make some plans for the types of prayer we will engage in during the Advent season. I recommend a daily Advent reflection in addition to daily Mass, and any practice that will help us to learn and to live God’s cleansing and purifying Holy Will, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may undertake the meditation and prayer necessary to live holy and righteous lives.

For a healing of all family divisions, reunion for the estranged and welcoming of the alienated.

That those who have fallen away from the Church or fallen into serious sin may repent and return to the grace of the Sacraments.

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, the unemployed, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.