A HOUSE OF REFUGE - A: 20th Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 (20 August 2023)

“For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isa 56:7b)

A house of prayer refers to a place where a person can encounter the divine. Such a site is typically established at a separate location (often on top of a mountain) and is overseen by a person or organization (usually coming from the male gender) that is widely regarded as having a high level of moral rectitude and reliability. The majority of territorial groups would build temples or sanctuaries, which priests or consecrated individuals run. De facto, oratories prevent non-members from entering easily, setting up severe rules and regulations on norms of conduct therein.

To further guarantee that these sacred sites stay unblemished and “holy,” the clerical order was established to oversee them. These caretakers have received enough training and preparation for this noble task of caring for sanctuaries and praying to God on behalf of the populace. Given the importance of this task, priests are molded to be “cut above the rest” due to their sensitive duty as God’s intermediaries.

This setup has persisted throughout history, i.e., nobody is ever allowed to take over their ecclesial tasks without being consecrated to God in ordination or installation.

Meanwhile, the prophet Isaiah in our first reading expanded this description of the house of prayer by referring to it as a house of refuge. For him, it should be a place where foreigners can also congregate and be allowed to offer their gifts to God: “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar” (56:6-7a). The original temple that Solomon built limited access to the edifice to those genealogically belonging to the twelve tribes of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 6–7). The Court of Gentiles was constructed therein (cf. Mt 21:17-23; Jn 2:11-12), but it is not a part of the inner precinct of the temple. It was, in fact, the outermost courtyard, being separated by a balustrade with posted warnings indicating that trespassers would be put to death (cf. Acts 21:27-29). Conversely, Isaiah declared that all temples should always be open to anybody.

It infers that foreigners could also enter its premises and encounter God freely, without being necessarily proselytized nor fully supporting the Jewish faith system.

This notion that houses of worship are places of sanctuary implies that these sacred spaces should never be restricted to a small group, nor their doors be closed to those in need. Hence, these oratories are not just for pious Christians. They can also serve as a safe harbor for individuals drowning in the enormous sea of sin, apathy, materialism, and immorality. Pope Francis explained that the church must be viewed as a field hospital, where the spiritually ill and lonely can find comfort, solutions, and a purpose for their time on earth. Do we also view it in the same way?

- Rex Fortes, CM