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We all know about Jesus getting angry one day in the temple and driving the traders in the church out with a whip.  Can you    imagine the scene and how angry the traders would have been? Well the story I have below illustrates the same theme happening in modern times.

A man was driving without his seatbelt when he spotted a patrol car right behind him. He grabbed for the belt and put it on. But it was too late, and the red lights began to flash and the two cars stopped. The police officer got out and said to the driver: ‘You weren’t wearing your seatbelt,” 

“Yes, I was,” said the man, “and if you don’t believe me, ask my wife.” 

“So how ABOUT it, ma’am?” asked the policeman, 

Officer,” she said, “I’ve been married to this man for forty years, and there’s one thing I’ve learned: Never argue with him when he’s drunk! Just give him a ticket for not wearing the seat belt.” 

In that Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t bother to argue with the unjust merchants and moneychangers who have converted the Temple of Jerusalem into a noisy “marketplace” and a “hideout of thieves.” Instead, he frightens them with his angry order and chases them away, wielding the whip in his hands. 

Our parish Churches, St George’s and St Wilfrid’s, are places where we come together as a community to praise and worship God, to thank Him for his blessings, to ask pardon and forgiveness for our sins, and to offer our lives and petitions on the altar. It is our duty  to make our Churches even more holy by adding our prayers and songs to our worship and by giving our time and talents and  treasure in the various ministries. I am appealing this week for you to volunteer your services as welcomers, readers, ministers of holy communion, altar servers and writing the bidding prayers for use at Mass. None of these take up much time. Help and guidance are available if   needed. They are all really needed in the current time and the more volunteers who come forward the lighter the burden on those  already helping. Please speak to Fr Rory or any of those already helping if you are willing to help in any way. I have always said the   personal approach is the best method of finding volunteers so don’t be surprised if you are asked if you would be willing to help in some way. Unfortunately there is not enough time after Mass as you leave church for us to ask everyone personally. I have never    managed to ask more than two on any one Sunday. I became a deacon some 4/5 years after I was asked one day by my Parish priest if I had ever thought about becoming a deacon. My immediate response was “No Father, what is that?” His question led me to eventually say “I will” after training and preparation. The various ministries that I mentioned earlier require nothing like the preparation to become a deacon. You see them in action each week in our churches, so you already know what they do. These ministries are really   rewarding in that one gains a lot by doing one or more of them – so please help us all by volunteering, preferably before Fr Rory, myself or someone else asks you if you would volunteer!