Greetings on this the Third Sunday of Lent
Readings: Ex 20:1-17; PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25
Notes
It is well to repeat the commandments during the season of Lent. Much has been written on the commandments so I won’t focus on that today in the direct form. In the indirect form I simply ask what the Lord asks: Do you love me? Do you love each other?
The cult of sacrifice is coming to an end by virtue of the person of Jesus and the reality he is the final Lamb, the Lamb of God. And when I say ‘end’ it is true to an extent but more fully it is perfected sacrifice in the person of Jesus.
In time it is the final sacrifice. In the eternal, outside of time, it is a perpetual reality of the self-giving love of the Divine who empties himself to allow us to experience his divine love in its fullness and forever.
Summary
Zeal for your house will consume me.
- Jesus is consecrating anew the Temple for its own sake of the cult of sacrifice as it is practiced until the day of the Lamb.
- Jesus is consecrating anew the Temple for the soon to occur sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
- Jesus is absorbing the chaos, scorn, and opposition to the Divine will (read the 69th Psalm in its entirety).
- Jesus is reminding the people of the importance of the cult of sacrifice in its current form as it points toward its final form: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Love will not be denied.
Reflection
People cringe at the idea of the Cult of Sacrifice. Clearly the concept has been abused and misused through a variety of means and methods. In the context of the divine, the cult of sacrifice is rediscovered in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. That God himself is self-giving to the point of self annihilation except for the personhood of the Father and Holy Spirit to lift him up.
Personal Reflection
The unbloodied sacrifice of the Holy Mass allows us to enter into the divine moment of full and complete unity between him and us. It is not without effort the Lord rescues us. Just as we should not abuse the temple practices in the days of Jesus nor should we do so now in the days of the Church.
The divine logic of self-giving love is beyond the categorical reference the people want to impose on intelligibility. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified. Certainly the signs were given to see and confirm. Certainly the wisdom of love is achievable by reason of logic. But the question of love is the stumbling block. Do you love me? Do you love each other?
Reference video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_y9F5St4j0
For our part
- Cleanse the temple of grifters, and those seeking self gain.
- Cleanse the temple of our heart to receive the Holy One of God, the Christ.
First Reading
In those days, God delivered all these commandments:
“I, the LORD am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
“You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
the one who takes his name in vain.
“Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the Lord, your God, is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him.”
Responsorial
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
Second Reading
Brothers and sisters: Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified.
Gospel Acclamation
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
Gospel
Cleansing of the Temple.
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.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry