The first Sunday of Lent reminded us of the Spiritual Combat we have been engaged in since the day we were baptized. The second Sunday reminded us of the Victory of the Lord over suffering and the guarantee that the evils we undergo today is temporary. Today, we are once more reminded of the connection existing between our Lenten observances and our identity as the New Temple where fruits of our worship “in spirit and in truth” (cf. John 4:23) are continuously offered to God.
Relevant Articles
- Articles: John 2:13-22 The Temple Which is His Body
- Lectio Divina: The Purification of the Temple
- The Ten Words
- Mag-aral Tayo: Ang Templong Katawan ni Kristo
- Bibliya Tagala: Wasakin Ninyo ang Templong Ito
- Destroy and I Will Raise It Up
Guide to the Gospel
1. Note that John 2:13-22 can be divided into two parts. The first part is explained by a quotation from Psalm 69:10: “Zeal for your house consumed me.” Read the whole of Psalm 69 — how does it apply to Jesus?
2. The second part of the narrative is about a “sign”. Read the following similar accounts:
- Matthew 12:38-42
- Matthew 16:1-4
- Luke 11:29-32
What are the similarities and differences between these latter accounts and the account in John?
3. The Temple was the place where Israel continually offered its gifts to God. Gifts were of two kinds: animal sacrifices and harvest offerings. There was a section in the Temple where animals were killed, butchered and offered according the prescriptions of the Law. During the time of Jesus, the Temple had a section where one can conveniently “buy” animal offerings with the money of the Temple. This led to a situation where ritual practices became an occassion for business. This was the situation that Jesus referred to as “making my Father’s house a market place.” How did Jeremiah denounce such a situation? See Jeremiah 7.
Review of the Readings
The selection of passages for the third Sunday of Lent is thoroughly “cuaresma-tic”. The first reading from Exodus 20 sets before us the Law that Jesus said his disciples should practise with a righteousness that goes beyond that of the scribes and the Pharisees. The “Ten Words” of Moses were meant to change Israel into a nation known for its wisdom (see Deuteronomy 4:6).
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus is shown to us as the one who authoritatively interprets the Torah. In the second Sunday of Lent, we were told by the voice from the cloud to listen to Him. The second reading for this day’s liturgy underlines for us the importance of Jesus: He is the wisdom and the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:22-25).
Suggestions for the Lesson
Our Lenten journey prepares us for the renewal of our baptismal vows during the Easter Vigil. But the journey is not just to help us fulfill a ritual practise. The idea should be that each year that we go through this journey, our faith is deepened and that we are further trained in Christian wisdom. I would suggest the following themes:
1. “Zeal for your house consumes me”. The disciples apply this passage from Psalm 69:10 when they see Jesus cleansing the Temple. “Your house”, in the Psalm dioes not refer only to the Temple, but also for all those that make up the concerns of God. When John mentions this application, he was also pointing to the suffering that Jesus will undergo later on. Just as the “I” in Psalm 69 suffers because of his commitment to the cause of God, so too Jesus will suffer later on in obedience to God’s will.
Lent is a time when we make our own the Lord’s zeal in fasting, abstinence, good works, prayer, and listening to the Word of God.
2. “Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up after three days… He was referring to his Body.” In Hebrews we find this relevant passage:
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
but a body have you prepared for me;
you have taken no pleasure.
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” (Hebrews 10:5-7)
The Body that Jesus was referring to was the “Temple” that the Jews will destroy on the Cross. It is also the Body that will be the sacrifice of Christ as High Priest of the New Covenant.
When we celebrate the Eucharist, we commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, a sacrifice that once and for all brought forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.
3. “Body” in the Johanine text above can also be made to relate to Romans 12:1-7. The “Body” of Jesus raised three days after His death is the New Temple made up of living stones (cf. 1 Peter), the “Body of Christ” which is the Church. That is why Lent should also be a time when we practise in a special way what Paul commands: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.” In a special way, we unite ourselves to Christ through our Lenten observances.
Tags: Body of Christ, commandments, Johannine Literature, Temple, wisdom
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