J esus’ cleansing of the temple is also a prophetic sign of what he wants to do with each of us. He ever seeks to cleanse us of sin and make us living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you want to be holy as God is holy?

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17

J ohn 2:13-22  [alternate reading: Luke 17:1-6]  The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14) In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. (15) And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. (16) And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." (17) His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." (18) The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" (19) Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (20) The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" (21) But he spoke of the temple of his body. (22) When, therefore, he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

Meditation by Don Schwager

W hat can keep us from the presence of God? Jesus’ dramatic cleansing of the temple was seen by his disciples as a prophetic sign of God’s action.  The temple was understood as the dwelling place of God among his people. When God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, he brought them through the sea, and finally to Mount Sinai where he made a covenant with them and gave them a new way of life embodied in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). God gave Moses instruction for worship and for making the Tabernacle, or tent of meeting, which was later replaced by the temple. The New Testament tells us that these “serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary” – God’s Temple in heaven (Hebrews 8:5). Jesus’ cleansing of the temple is also a prophetic sign of what he wants to do with each of us. He ever seeks to cleanse us of sin and make us living temples of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you want to be holy as God is holy?

 Jesus referred to the temple as his Father’s house which was being made into “house of trade” (John 2:16) or “den of robbers” (Mark 11:17). That is why he used physical force to expel the money-chargers. The prophecy of Malachi foretold the coming of the Lord unexpectedly to his Temple to “purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord” (Malachi 3:1-4). Jesus' disciples recalled the words of Psalm 69: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” This was understood as a Messianic prophecy. Here the disciples saw more clearly Jesus as the Messiah who burned with zeal for God's house. The Jewish authorities, however, wanted proof that Jesus had divine authority to act as he did. They demanded a sign from God to prove Jesus right, otherwise, they would treat him as an imposter and a usurper of their authority.

Jesus replied that the sign God would give would be Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews did not understand that the temple Jesus referred to was his own body. The “tent of his body” had to be destroyed to open the way to the presence of God for us. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus not only reconciles us with God, but he fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes us temples of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God's word enlightens our minds and purifies our hearts that we may offer God fitting worship and enjoy his presence both now and forever. Do you burn with zeal for the Lord’s house?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you open wide the door of your Father’s house and you bid us to enter confidently that we may worship in spirit and truth. Help me to draw near to your throne of mercy with gratitude and joy."

Supplementary Reading

WoRlD WITHouT GoD

The concern of the flesh is death . . . – Romans 8:6

I received a signature campaign letter protesting the plan of the South African government to close down their child protection unit. The reasons cited were horror stories.

A three-year-old girl was raped in South Africa. And the rapist was released on bail. At the time of the petition letter, he was walking free. They said that there’s a myth that having sex with a virgin cures AIDS. And the younger the virgin, the more potent the cure.

This myth led to an epidemic of rapes committed by infested males. They further reported that in Cape Town, six men raped a nine-month-old baby  How horrible! I wonder if it could have been worse in Sodom and Gomorrah. But this is what happens when the Spirit of God is absent. I dread to imagine that similar situations may be happening in other parts of the world. That’s why we Christians must work double time to keep the Spirit of God alive to save souls. -- Cristy Galang

REFLECTION:

What am I doing to build the Kingdom of God where He planted me?

My God, I offer all my joys and sorrows for the spread of Your Kingdom all over the world. Jesus, Mary, I love you. Please save souls. Amen.