Fr Paul’s Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Lent
(Exodus 20:1-17 & John 2:13-25)
That a disturbing Gospel we heard today! We hear of an angry Jesus turning over tables, and using a whip to drive out merchants and cattle alike. Where did this wild man come from? This is not the gentle Jesus, who exhorts us to “turn the other cheek”!?
If you were one of the merchants selling goods in the temple area, what would you be thinking? It was Passover time; many pilgrims would be gathering to celebrate the holyday. (It’s like the scene in stores on the week before Christmas Day.) The sacrifice animals would be bought on site, rather than brought from some distant places. The temple tax would need be paid in shekels, rather than the “unclean” Roman or Greek coinage. There were vendors, who would exchange money for a commission. The merchants were providing a service. So what is the big deal for Jesus?
It was legitimate, but it got out of hand. Jerusalem was a tourist trap! The animals of sacrifice were often defective, and went at a high price. The exchange rate on coins were unfair! At one time this business was done outside the temple area, but Caiaphas (the same man responsible for Jesus’ death), allowed it to be moved unto the temple precincts. Jesus was outraged, not only for the lack of reverence, but also for the injustice inflicted upon poor pious pilgrims, who had little choice.
The passages about Jesus cleansing the temple appear in all the synoptic Gospels, and in the Gospel of John. His act obviously made an impression upon the disciples. (In the synoptics this scene appears during the last week of His life, and it is additional fuel for Jesus’ enemies to do away with Him. In John it appears at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, right after the miracle at Cana, and before Nicodemus coming to seek out Jesus during the night. Cleansing the temple and readying the temple for sacrifice was part of Jesus’ mission right from the start.)
The disciples understood this act as very important. “Zeal for God’s house consumes me”, was said of Jesus, as he re-echoes Psalm 69:10, and the Servant in Isaiah. The first reading today, from Exodus, speaks of God as a “jealous God”. Jesus is described as “zealous”. Jealousy and zealousness are words closely linked in meaning. They are strong passions, they are fiery passions which can consume a soul. The fire in Jesus’ heart is like the fire on Mount Sinai.
Jesus loved visiting the temple. The Gospel of Luke relates how Jesus was presented in the temple. As a young teen he was brought to the temple to participate in the Jewish ceremony of coming of age. He stayed behind in the temple. When His distressed parents asked why He did it, He simply replied: “I just had to”. He returned for the holydays, for Passover, for the Feast of Lights. He came, even when it endangered His life – “I just had to!” He fulfilled the words of the prophet Malachi: “Suddenly, the Lord is standing in His House!” The Messiah comes to inspect the temple, to cleanse it before the nations were invited into it.
So, what do we learn from today’s Gospel passage? It is not simply a condemnation of particular businessmen. It is not the condemnation of the institutional clergy, who neglected their duties. It is not about prohibiting the sale of cookies or the offering of raffle chances in the gathering space (although we try hard not to do such). It is about zeal for God’s house.
Today’s scriptures call us to a greater purity in the observance of the Sabbath. It invites us to celebrate with a personal zeal, “It is good for us to be here”. It demands a preparation for worship, a thanksgiving afterwards, and respect and reverence while we are here. We might also consider reverence to those who worship with us, the People of God, who constitute Church.
St. Paul reminds us that we “are temples of the Holy Spirit”. How do we decorate that temple? What sacrifices do we offer within that Holy of Holies? How do you care for it (both your physical body and your soul)? What unworthy “transactions” are going on within your heart? What sin or lack of generosity needs to be expelled? The Jews reminded Jesus that the temple was under construction for 46 years. Your temple is also under constant construction. What have you done to update, to renew, to ignite zeal, to learn and understand your religion? What have you done to reinforce your spiritual life? Sometimes our cleansing of the temple may require some form of violence (hopefully a mild sort). Lent gives us a wonderful opportunity to get rid of our personal “money changers”.
My mother died at age 96. Me father preceded her by 15 years. They were both fastidiously clean people. As she got older, common household tasks became more difficult. My sister would comment, “she can’t clean what she can’t see”. When I came to visit I would bring furniture polish and polishing clothes, and also make sure all pots and dishes were well sterilized. Mom related that she had a dream, in which my father appeared. He said, “Lady, you don’t do a very good job of cleaning house any more. Go to Father Paul, at his rectory. They have mops and brooms over there. He will gladly give you some.”
Okay, please, don’t come to my door looking for mops and brooms, but please, do take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation. Also, use the fine soaps and polishes of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
May zeal for God’s house fill you.