Sunday Gospel Reflection
Third Sunday of Lent
John 2:13-25
A New Temple
Carlo S. Dureza
Jesus gets inside the Jewish temple and becomes indignant. He sees traders selling their wares and exchanging money with buyers. Noise is heard all over in an otherwise serene abode of worship. The filth of animals for sale emits a stench that is a complete foil to the sweet fragrance of incense offered for prayers. The sacredness of the temple has been desecrated to the chagrin of the Son of God.
With a whip of cords, Jesus struck the sly merchants and their keep and angrily complained that they have made His Father’s house of prayer a den of thieves. His outburst was due to the loss of respect for God’s dwelling. Anyone in his right senses would not want his house cluttered with dirt, much more defiled by people with selfish motives and impure hearts.
In our time now, it is much apparent that businesses for worldly gain thrive in churches. Enterprising people mill around churches’ surroundings to make a living. Throngs abound in religious places and so come big opportunities for financial gain. Call this a business strategy for practicality!
God is never selfish to deny us access to His so-called areas of authority if it be for our earthly survival. He understands our needs for livelihood and never misjudges us in our desires to make ourselves self-reliant and materially secure. What He was angry about in the Gospel was the sense of judgement of the traders because they put money over and above God’s dignity and superiority right in His very home. People have denied love and respect for His Father in favor of love of money!
A temple is the dwelling place of God and must be revered. It must be kept clean and uncorrupt. Our bodies too are temples of God. He lives at the very core of our being. He would like to raise us up. We must take care of it always to make it a new creation each day of our lives. When God shows His wrath, it is because of our dastardly behavior or of being uncaring of His honor as Lord of all.
When our bodies become new temples, Jesus rises in us as He did in His Resurrection. We have resurrected with Him. Let’s cleanse our souls always and He shall dwell in us.
Happy Sunday and God bless!!
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Artwork:
Cleansing of the Temple by Rembrandt van Rijn
