Friday 18 November 2022

Today is Friday the 18th of November in the 33rd week of Ordinary time.

The community of Taizé sing Tu sei sorgente viva. “You are the living spring. You are fire, you are love. Come, Holy Spirit.”

Tu sei sorgente viva,
Tu sei fuoco, sei carità.
Vieni Spirito Santo,
Vieni Spirito Santo!

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 19:45-48

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

This is a powerful and provocative scene, far from the image of ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild’. This is Jesus, man of action. How do you feel as you imagine him overturning the temple marketplace in anger? Is there anything in the church or in the world that makes you feel as angry as this?

The people are described as spellbound by what they hear when Jesus teaches in the temple. Is there anything in his teaching that you find spellbinding? Imagine yourself as one of those who came to hear him. What is it like for you to listen to Jesus as he teaches?

As we listen once more to the reading notice what strikes you in what you see or hear in your imagination and stay with it.


As you reflect on this vivid scene, is there something that you want to say to Jesus, or to ask of him? Take time to find words for what is in your heart.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.