"DESTROY THIS TEMPLE ANDIN THREE DAYS, I WILL RAISE IT UP."
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”
But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
While He was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in His name when they saw the signs He was doing. But Jesus would not trust Himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.
On the Third Sunday of Lent, today's Gospel Passage reminds us that Jesus Christ is God's Most Holy Temple. It also reminds us of the sacredness not only of all places of worship but also of every human being, especially those who have been baptized. We are God's temple because He has imprinted in us His most sacred image of creation, and has consecrated us for His service at our Baptism.
We desecrate ourselves whenever we commit sin. And we desecrate others when we fail to respect their dignity or led them to commit sin. When this happens, Jesus becomes even more indignant than when he chased the traders from the Temple of Jerusalem.
As God's baptized children, let us renew our commitment to keep all of God's temples holy in every way and at all times.
Euchalette, 15 March 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines
At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”
But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
While He was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in His name when they saw the signs He was doing. But Jesus would not trust Himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.
On the Third Sunday of Lent, today's Gospel Passage reminds us that Jesus Christ is God's Most Holy Temple. It also reminds us of the sacredness not only of all places of worship but also of every human being, especially those who have been baptized. We are God's temple because He has imprinted in us His most sacred image of creation, and has consecrated us for His service at our Baptism.
We desecrate ourselves whenever we commit sin. And we desecrate others when we fail to respect their dignity or led them to commit sin. When this happens, Jesus becomes even more indignant than when he chased the traders from the Temple of Jerusalem.
As God's baptized children, let us renew our commitment to keep all of God's temples holy in every way and at all times.
Euchalette, 15 March 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines
