cleaning gleanings
"Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it." —1 Maccabees 4:36
Jesus cleansed the Temple and He wants us to cleanse the Church (Lk 19:45). We begin with our bodies, the temples of the Spirit (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19). We first take out the planks from our own eyes so as to see clearly enough to remove specks from others' eyes and temples (Mt 7:5).
Second, after confessing our sins, we should pray for a renewed love for Jesus' Body and Temple, the Church. "Christ loved the Church. He gave Himself up for her" (Eph 5:25). We must do the same, for without love nothing has value (1 Cor 13:3).
Third, filled with new love for Christ and His Body, we should increase our prayer and praise. His "house is meant for a house of prayer" (Lk 19:46), and we enter into His courts with praise (Ps 100:4; 1 Mc 4:55).
Finally, after praising the Lord for hours and days, the clouds of confusion disappear, we see the light. We know that God has called us to love and cleanse the Church. He will never call us without giving us the grace, anointing, and power to do the job. We will be successful in cleansing the Church. God's grace is always sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). Cleansing the Church seems impossible to us, but "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).
Prayer: Father, shake me up and use me up in cleaning up the Church.
Promise: "All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, Who had given them success." —1 Mc 4:55
Praise: Pope St. Clement, the fourth Pope, was used by God to work for the growth of the Church through faith and miracles.
Reference: (Cleanse the Church by being a Bible teacher. For encouragement, order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007
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