9-Nov-16

Gospel JN 2:13-22
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,
and 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 he 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.
Reflection:
Jerusalem was a bustling city full of travelers from all over the Middle East; Jews and Gentiles alike visited the temple to pay tribute to God.
Going to the temple to worship, Jesus found it to be a place of chaos where no person could reverently commune with God in solitude and peace.
Money changers were arguing with local and foreign worshippers over the exchange of currency, and merchants were selling animals to pilgrims for sacrifice.
All this was taking place with the blessing and permission of the priests who were receiving a percentage of every exchange.
"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,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.'"

Jesus' message still rings clear. If we allow our places of worship to become centers of commerce, we do so at the risk of losing reverence for God.
Astounded by Jesus being so aggressive as he drove the merchants from the temple, the Jews demanded to know by whose authority He had done such a thing:
"At this the Jews said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews were baffled by Jesus' answer. The temple had taken over four decades to build. But, Jesus was referring to the temple of His body which would be raised three days after His crucifixion. He was telling the Jews that He had come to replace their temple of stone and mortar.
From this point on, people bypass the temples constructed by man and offer their worship directly to God.
Surely, the heart of God is more deeply touched by a humble prayer whispered from a contrite heart than it is from choir bells ringing from the highest steeple.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." - - Matthew 6: 5-6