The principal thought that he had had enough. He found that this group of teachers had gone too far. He had found them in the staff room gloating over a pornographic magazine oblivious to the others around them and they were laughing and discussing, making a loud noise.

He walked in and took away the offensive document upbraiding the now stunned members of his staff. He told them that he was ashamed of them. They were making the staff room into a club-house whereas it should be a place of learning and a morally uplifting atmosphere. Students, he said, could be entering the room any moment and it would send the wrong message if they saw teachers engaging in this activity.

There were those who protested and responded that they were in their own private domain and students were not allowed to enter without permission, and in any case they were adults and could do as they wished in their own space.

The principal, however, asked them if they did not have rules in their own house and if their children did not have guidelines and limitations to what they could do, or if they themselves did not control their actions and conduct in their own house.

He was adamant that this type of behaviour could not be tolerated in the staff room as it amounted to a desecration of what he considered teaching space.

In our own homes and workplaces we might have encountered similar situations where we find there are those who go too far and are excessive in what they do, and as parents and colleagues we have to say “enough is enough”. What the perpetrators were doing might be considered acceptable in another location but here is not the place.

Whereas bathing suits are appropriate for the beach, we cannot conceive of parliamentarians coming to the House of Parliament in such wear. Whereas drinking and dancing are acceptable in a club or bar these activities would be considered contemptuous in the law courts.

Jesus found himself in a similar situation when he entered the Temple . The occupants were not doing anything sinful or illegal but they were disrespecting their surroundings. This Jesus could not tolerate and he had the strength of character to make them know just how he felt and forced them to evacuate immediately.

There are times in our life when we know we have to put our foot down because things have gone too far. We have to make a whip and drive the perpetrators out of the Temple . We know well those who are guilty of these activities and we are respected for our stance.

And so we pray: Lord, we thank you for the times when you gave us the courage to stand up for what we know is right, despite the opposition from those who are engaged in activities which we consider nefarious – the sellers and money-changers in the Temple. We thank you for those who voice their objection to vulgarity in carnival, and to corruption in the society. Zeal for your house is devouring them and so they have the courage to scatter those who are destroying the society, the house of your people.

We ask pardon for the times when we do not have the courage to speak up on issues which we know are important to our well being, when we allow wrongdoing and harmful behaviour to prosper without protest, when we allow the people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons to take over your Temple.

Send us courageous leaders in our community, in our schools and among our politicians, who will have the courage to uphold what is right and virtuous. They will be recognised for what they are and we will remember them for what they have done.

Gospel Meditations for March are by Felix Edinborough, Managing Director of Catholic Communications Studios and a parishioner of St Anthony's, Petit Valley.