Christ Jesus, make me a fruit-full ‘house’ of prayer ...

 
Mark 11:11-25

        
This passage of scripture demonstrates two kinds of fake fruitfulness that do more harm than good. Both involve lots of activity, and both produce no fruits of the Spirit. Like the fig tree, (normally growing some fruit in any season), if I am showing lots of greenery and no fruit, my life can become showy and seemingly healthy, with lots of activity going on, but no fruits of the Spirit being produced. This is like fake faithfulness of all show and no substance, and it is useless to Christ Jesus in his quest to save the world. Similarly, the Temple with all of its animal stalls, money changers, and avian sacrificial options represents the opposite kind of faith- fruitless-ness. The offal on the floor, the blood money on the tables along with the stench of indiscriminate urine is similar to the sins of jealousy, envy, hatred, lust, addictiveness and pride that can arise from frenetic activity in my life, when I choose the economy of the world over the quiet mercy of God. As a beloved child of God, I am designed to be truly fruit-full, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a place of prayer. Is my spiritual life all leaves and no fruit? Is my interior life so cluttered with obligations and activities that Jesus needs to sweep it clean so that I can again become a ‘house of prayer’? Christ Jesus, deal with me that I might become a fruit-full ‘house’ of prayer.
 
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth. (Psalm 96: 10)
 
 

St. Pio of Pietrelcino
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei