Dear Friends we are in the
Third Sunday of Lent. The response of the day says that the Lord has the words
of eternal life (Jn 6:68). This is the reply of Simon Peter to Jesus when the latter
asked the apostles about their decisions to follow Him after preaching a hard sermon
on Eucharist. Today, Eucharist is the source of life but prior to this, one
thing which served as food for Israelites was God’s word, especially the Ten
Commandments. The responsorial Psalm says that the law of God gladdens the
heart, revives the soul, gives wisdom and light. They are to be revered and
desired more than gold (Ps 19). The Law of God are nothing but a summary of God’s
Word. The following of those precepts leads one to eternal life. If there is
one folk which has had a high morale from the beginning, is none other than
Israel. In a time when the child sacrifices and fertility cult were the widely
accepted form of worship, Israelites was a unique community which offered up worship
to God through the observance of the law of God. Those laws uphold human
dignity. Keeping the Sabbath, respecting parents, not indulging in murder,
stealing, false witness, adultery and covetousness are reverencing the fellow
human being. These Ten Commandments are the root of all civilization. Democracy
and development have its origin in Ten Commandments. Today’s first reading
shows that these commandments are not a formulation of any human intellect, rather
they are handed on to us by God Himself. We have very many constitutions and regulations
to guide various nations and organizations. But one moral code which is perfect
and has no defect is God’s law; the Ten
Commandments. These laws are basics and fundamental to Christian living. All
of us appreciate the rich content of these 10 laws but find it difficult to
follow it. Season of lent is a good opportunity to introspect and see how
faithful are we in following these basic principles of Christianity. Following
of these laws are very important because they not only disciple our life but
has transformative power. They make us reflect God in this world. We become a
meeting point of God for fellow humans. In this context the Gospel of today becomes
relevant.
Jesus cleanses the temple in
the Gospel. Jesus is angry and chases the business people in the temple through
whips. This temple was reconstructed after Babylonian exile and later extended with
magnificent artworks by Herod the great. It had human glory but was lacking the
glory of God (Kabod). Actually, the
money changers were doing very good job by helping the faithful to change their
business coin into a religious coin. Their service was commendable but the way
they did that job and the place they had occupied to do that were outrageous. They
extracted huge money for exchange of coins. They had occupied Gentiles place in
the temple. This infuriated Jesus. Through whips Jesus restores the place of
worship for the gentiles. Today we too undertake magnificent church constructions.
We pay attention for the beautification of domes and sanctuary, also inscribe human
glory in the marbles. Do our decorative church need Jesus whips? It is necessary
to have physical church for worship and prayer. The art work and sculptures in
the church evoke God’s presence. They indeed give a feeling of heaven on earth.
But we should not remain with that. The purpose for which they are made should
be achieved. We need to give first place to God in the church. We need to keep
silence in Church. Extraction of more money for worship and increasing of expenditure
for church festivals become meaningless, even godless if they don’t contribute
for souls to encounter God. In that case, we need whips from Jesus today. Jesus
also projects Himself as new temple where worship will be offered. When we live
out Christ’s values our whole selves becomes a perfect offering for God.
In the second reading, St. Paul speaks of the
cross of Christ. Our God is a sufferer for love. This suffering God is not
acceptable to Jews, moreover it is a ridicule for gentiles. Yet, St. Paul
proclaimed the cross of Christ, a God who died on the cross to Jews and
gentiles. This show that the proclamation of St. Paul was of no human origin. Philosophy
which looked for happy God without any suffering had to bow its head to God who
undertakes suffering out of love. Where there is love, there is no room for human
philosophy. Love topples human assumptions. In human reasoning infidelity leads
one to give up love. In God’s reasoning infidelity gains more love from God if
a person returns to God with contrite heart. May this season of lent help us to
return to God with contrite heart. May we gain more love. Remember no human
assumptions and reasoning can condition God from forgiving us. May our love for
God be expressed in living out Ten Commandments and keeping the holiness of God’s
house. In doing so our lives will become discipline, beautiful and magnificent temple
of God.
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