In the First Reading God recalls for the Israelites all that He has done for them - in their lifetime! Huge, impossible miracles that forever changed their lives. In return, He asks that they remember their dependence on Him and worship Him - not statues and created elements, but the Creator of them all Who is active in their lives.
And He asks that they treat each other with respect,
clarifying what that means in regard to relationships and property
in the Ten Commandments.
The Responsorial Psalm's refrain would be well to be remembered by today's lawmakers, media, and all of us:
"Lord, you have the words of everlasting life."
His words are everlasting - and that includes the Ten Commandments. Those who follow His words will have an everlasting life of joy, regardless of the heartaches in this life. Those who ignore the words or mock those trying to follow them will have an everlasting life of sorrow.
St. Paul says so well in the Second Reading words our world can use today - God's foolishness is more wise than the world's greatest strengths! Don't let the world's desires hide the path to God from you.
In Mark's Gospel, Jesus' righteous anger is often touted as justification for our own acts when prompted by righteous anger, especially when protecting the sacredness due God's holy house.
It should be noted that He took time to "make a whip," which likely took more than a few seconds. Was He was asking the Father's guidance and observing who was there for worldly gain?
He drove out those not interested in worship.
When we enter Church, are our minds focused, or trying to be focused, on God's glory and goodness, or do we use this time to organize our thoughts for accomplishing our own worldly goals for the week?
