spring cleaning
"He made a [kind of] whip of cords and drove sheep and oxen alike out of the temple area, and knocked over the money-changers' tables, spilling their coins." —John 2:15
This Lent, Jesus will cleanse the temples of our lives to whatever degree we let Him. Many people want Jesus to just dust them a little or simply brush over them with a damp rag. Very few want Jesus to get out the vacuum cleaner and get down to some serious spring cleaning. Fewer still want Jesus to get out a whip of cords, knock over those things in their lives that are not His will, and drive them out. Why don't we trust Jesus enough to let Him really clean house?
If you are willing to have the Lord do spring cleaning on you:
- Go to Confession at least twice this Lent.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to take you to the cross and convict you of sin (Jn 16:8).
- By God's grace, decide to forgive everyone and apologize to those you have delayed in forgiving.
- Ask the Lord to forgive your unknown faults and to heal your subconscious (Ps 19:13).
- Ask others to lay hands on you and pray for healing of your mind, body, and spirit.
- Ask the Lord to purify you through a fast of several days.
- Thank the Lord for cleansing you as if you were a newly baptized baby (see 2 Kgs 5:14).
Prayer: Lord, "thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me" (Ps 51:4).
Promise: "We preach Christ crucified...the Power of God and the Wisdom of God." —1 Cor 1:23-24
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who laid down His life so that we may be clean!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, The Secret of Confession, or on audio AV 44-3 or video V-44.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 11, 2008
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