Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr 

Rev. 10:8-11
Ps. 118(119):14,24,72,103,111,131
Luke 19:45-48

WORSHIPPING GOD WITH A DEVOTED MIND AND HEART IS PARAMOUNT FOR OUR SANCTIFICATION

Today marks the memorial of St. Cecilia, a figure renowned for her life characterized by gratitude and generosity. St. Cecilia dedicated her virginity as an offering of thanksgiving to God and conveyed her devotion through sacred music.

In the gospel passage for today, following His sorrowful lament over Jerusalem, Jesus entered the city and proceeded to the Temple. There, He encountered merchants selling oxen, sheep, and pigeons, as well as money changers engaged in their transactions.

In a display of righteous indignation, He fashioned a whip from cords, overturned their tables, and expelled them from the Temple. This act serves as a powerful symbol of His mission to purify humanity through His sacrificial death for our sins.

It illustrates His deep commitment to the sanctity of God’s house, underscoring that true worship is taken seriously by God. Furthermore, this condemnation of the money changers reflects their dishonor toward God’s dwelling and the injustices inflicted upon the faithful in their commercial dealings.

We live in a society driven by the pursuit of wealth, where individuals may resort to unethical means—such as theft, fraud, extortion, kidnapping, assassination, ritual killings, and terrorism—to achieve their desires. Such malevolent practices profoundly impact the authenticity of our worship. Despite our attendance at religious gatherings, the fabric of society continues to deteriorate under the weight of bribery and corruption.

The purification of God’s house—and, by extension, our society—must commence within ourselves. We embody God’s house; thus, the cultivation of integrity and compassion must begin at the individual level.

We must endeavor toward peace and genuine mutual understanding. Our collective efforts should be directed toward fostering a better future, anchored in unity and progress in our thoughts, actions, and spirit.

As we navigate our spiritual journeys, may we seek solace in God, to whom all devotion and reverence are owed. Furthermore, let us continually strive to renew our minds and hearts by divine will.

“Cast me not away from Your presence, O Lord; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit within me. Lord, be the Master of my soul. Amen.”

Fr Joseph Osho