How many times have we found ourselves bargaining with God? Bargaining is a natural emotional response and instinct in our culture. As consumers, we exchange money or influence to get what we want. This routine makes it easy for us to try and react the same way in prayer with God.
We have all experienced times when we desired stability in finances, health, family, work status, independence, and order in our lives. Our mode of operating with each other to try and secure these things can sometimes lead us astray from God’s will for us.
The first reading reminds us of the Ten Commandments our Lord has given to guide us in the right relationship with him. Reminding ourselves of this fact helps us to recall that our relationship with God is covenantal. Often, we bend Jesus’ teachings to make him the “Buddy Jesus” of our own choosing rather than the Jesus that God sent! Our bargaining ways do not fit the box we try to put him in, for God doesn’t work as we do.
So, we are reminded that, as the Lord flipped tables over in the temple for a return to proper praise and worship with God, we need to flip our human actions to reconnect ourselves to God. Our bodies are temples of the Lord. When we receive him at Mass, we become little tabernacles. As we let him enter under our roofs, do we synergistically work with him to flip our lives? This Lenten season is a great time to reflect on this task to help us grow with Christ and prepare for his return. We can prepare ourselves for God’s grace by worshipping at Mass and living the Church’s sacramental life by attending the Stations of the Cross, praying, and working with our community to clear out our temple so his grace may empower us. As Paul wrote in our second reading, we proclaim Christ crucified. This is not a sign of weakness in Jesus or ourselves. We are baptized with the power and strength of our Lord, who conquered death at the cross. It is up to us to flip for Christ!
– Deacon Jeff Loeb
