MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF GOD

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25
Gospel: Jn 2:13-25

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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