BE SEARCHED BY THE HEART OF GOD

Jesus scrutinizes the hearts of the men who witnessed his miracles and realizes that theirs is not true faith but only emotion. It is a faith that seeks only sensationalism, what today we would define as “fideism”. Jesus instead tries to give them a faith that is authentic and strong.

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Dear Readers of The Island of Patmos,

In this third stage towards Easter we observe a very strong moment in the life of Jesus. The only episode in which the Lord almost seems to use violent actions in which he fights the mentality of his time. In fact every fight scene is always strong on the eyes. Let us think of the war scenes described in great classical works such asIliade o la Jerusalem Liberated. The fight of Jesus, But, it is not aimed at war, but until a feeling of faith and continuous conversion arises in the heart of man and in each of us.

On this third Sunday of Lent We read the famous passage of the expulsion of the merchants from the temple in (text of the Gospel HERE). A really strong scene. A way for the Lord to purify the Temple, that is, the house of God, from the impurities that the not always correct sales were made here. However, the Temple, it is a sacred space that merchants really could not enter for the purpose of buying and selling.

This episode it is generally applied to our time as a condemnation of the market and of inhuman financial speculations which do not respect the dignity and sacredness of man. But this is also a sign that Jesus is not attentive to individual economic materiality in itself but as a means to an end. The money, so, however necessary, it can never become a substitute for God.

The next dialogue it is an excuse that Jesus uses to announce his Passion. To affirm his final act of love. This act of love is Redemption and liberation from sin. And it is also the Great Sign of Jesus, greater than all other signs, that we too must rediscover this Lent. In fact, if we read this pericope carefully:

«While he was in Jerusalem for Passover, during the party, a lot of, seeing the signs that he performed, they believed in his name. Jesus, he didn't trust them, because he knew everyone and did not need anyone to bear witness about man. For he knew what is in man.".

We understand how Jesus, through his divine knowledge by way of eternity, he searches the hearts of the men who witnessed his miracles. And he realizes that theirs is not a true faith but only emotion. It is a faith that seeks only sensationalism, or what today we would define as “fideism”. Jesus instead tries to give them a faith that is authentic and strong.

This is our daily journey that in this difficult period we can undertake with courage. Let us help with prayer, the Sacraments and trust in the Lord to free us from an immature faith, emotional and fragile. This path can also help us understand what our difficulties and distractions are in prayer and in the practice of works of mercy.

All of this will lead us to grow in being known to gradually become more and more intimate with the Lord. And this intimacy will be a source of joy and satisfaction.

We ask the Lord to always have a heart open to his inspirations of love and truth to become new men in Him.

Amen!

Santa Maria Novella in Florence, 3 March 2024

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