Third Sunday of Lent: B: March 7,2021

MY HOUSE IS A HOUSE OF PRAYER

First Reading: Exodus 20: 1-17

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25

Gospel Reading: John 2: 13-25

   * First reading is from the book of Exodus. How the Lord God gave the ten commandments to Moses is described. It also explains to us how these commandments are to observed by the chosen people of God. These commandments are the road maps for the people to lead a holy life pleasing to the Lord God. They were told to observe them to have a special relationship with the Lord God. Hence these commandments are to regulate and to govern their relationship with the Lord God and fellow humans. 

   * Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul is at great pains to explain to the Christian community in Corinth that the crucified Christ is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. But in truth it is the power and the wisdom of God. 

Jesus cleanses the Jerusalem temple                                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The happenings at Jerusalem temple when Jesus arrived there are narrated. Often in the Gospels we meet a Jesus who is compassionate, kind and forgiving. But in today's Gospel we meet a Jesus who is full of zeal for His Father's house. The context is the misuse or abuse of the temple and its premises where less of worship of God and more of  trading and business was taking place. People from different parts of the world came to Jerusalem temple to offer sacrifices. The temple premises looked more like a market place rather than a place of worship. There were money changers and those who were selling pigeons, goats and other sacrificial animals. Jesus was disturbed and pained to see all these unholy activities taking place there. Jesus was deeply disgusted by the desecration of the temple. So He told them, "You shall not make my Father's house into a house of trade." Then He made a whip and drove out all those who were buying and selling and exchanging money.                                                                        This action of Jesus should make us reflect and help us to stand against distortion of values in the Church and in the society at large. It is a specific warning for us not to make places of worship into places of business.  

"The risen Lord is the new Temple, the real meeting place between God and man." - Pope Benedict XVI

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