Clutter Busting

Lent 3B March 11, 2012

Clutter Busting by Tom Cox
Space fascinates us. Science today is able to tell us much about outer space, even to predicting cosmic collisions between meteorites. Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese discipline, enjoys a minor revival. It believes that the positioning of our houses and belongings help us - or not - to receive positive qi (life energy). But all this is external stuff, all out there. What about inner space? If churches are a symbol of a believing community, then a house is a symbol of the self. Maybe that is what this Sunday’s Gospel is about. Jesus is not so much ransacking a temple, he is really on about YOU. Yes, you, that can look so respectable, so finished, so perfect on a Sunday. We search for God, very often in the space you may be reading this, and God searches for you. If you look around you, everything looks pretty complete; and we don’t really present our real self out there. There’s not much sign of a search going on, but listen, really listen. Hear the chaotic prayer of each heart around you. “God, why this?” “I need a sign.” “Won’t you help?” There is so much going on in our inner space, that Jesus wishes to throw aside one thing after another, to find…you. God comes searching for us in all our ragged imperfection. It was always that way. The divine fascination with our humanity, never with our perfection. Jesus offers compassionate accompaniment. At a Christian funeral, you will see the remains honoured with incense, a reminder that the human body is the dwelling place of God on earth. A mobile tabernacle if you like. It deserves honour, not just at death. In what condition is your “temple”? This is not about waistline, it’s spirit space. Is it a place where God, Jesus and the Spirit can reside? Is your body and mind “a place of prayer” (Gospel), one that brings glory to God? How would you feel if Jesus came in and surveyed it? Have you allowed the mundane things of life to so preoccupy your “temple” that it is not what God intended. Is it a little common and profane? We know from science that Nature hates a vacuum, an empty space is not necessarily a godly space. Cleansing without replacement is dangerous. It needs some positive guidelines. The Lord led his people from slavery (1st Reading); the only fitting response is a loving one to live a life that treats God, self and others as is right.

(Comments to Tom at tomasmacconchoille@googlemail.com )