Distractions from Within

03-06-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

In today’s first reading, we hear that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments; then in the Gospel we hear how the people violated the Commandments causing Jesus to become angry and drive them out of the Temple area. So, which of the Commandments did the people violate? Jesus explained clearly that the summary of the Ten Commandment is “Love,” that is, love of God and love of neighbor (Matt 22:37-39). We know the first three Commandments are about our relationship with God (love of God) and the other seven are about love of neighbor. Obviously, the people selling and buying in the Temple area violated the first three Commandments.

If Jesus were to enter our Church when Mass is going on today, do you think he would fi nd buying and selling in the Church? I think Jesus might see a different type of buying and selling, a type that is not always visible to the eye. Remember, the overall reason Jesus drove out the people from the Temple area was because they were causing distraction during prayer service and turning the Temple area into a business center using coins with the image of the emperor who thought of himself as a god. We can all identify with this story in many ways. Most especially because we are all vulnerable to distraction during Mass and can be easily tempted to place more value in material things than our relationship with Christ.

Do we make noise in the Church when other people are praying? Do we respect the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle? Do we listen carefully to the Word of God being proclaimed? Most distractions we experience during prayer and Mass generally come from within us. Do you ever find your mind somewhere else during Mass, wandering away and thinking of people, places and things such that you cannot focus? If so, how are we really different from the people buying and selling in the Temple area who were physically present but were not praying?

The Scripture readings today invite us to reflect on the quality of time, respect and honor we give to God. The readings also invite us to reflect on how we distract other people and ourselves during prayer and Mass. The Lenten Season off ers us the opportunity to develop personal discipline to control distractions during prayer and to strengthen our relationship with God.

BACK TO LIST