{"id":4891,"date":"2024-03-02T23:16:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T23:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=4891"},"modified":"2024-02-24T10:44:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-24T10:44:04","slug":"commentary-on-3rd-sunday-of-lent-b-3-03-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-3rd-sunday-of-lent-b-3-03-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 3rd Sunday of Lent (B), 3.03.2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT\u00a0 John 2:13\u201325<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Setting<\/p>\n

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cleansing of Temple<\/p>\n

14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money\u2013changers 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\u2013changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, \u201cTake these things away; you shall not make my Father\u2019s house a house of trade.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0His Disciples Remembered I<\/p>\n

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, \u201cZeal for your house will consume me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dialogue about a Sign<\/p>\n

18 The Jews then said to him, \u201cWhat sign have you to show us for doing this?\u201d 19 Jesus answered them, \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\u201d 20 The Jews then said, \u201cIt has taken forty\u2013six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?\u201d 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

His Disciples Remembered II<\/p>\n

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.
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Belief in Jesus<\/p>\n

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; 24 but Jesus did not trust himself to them, 25 because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the next three Lenten Sundays and the daily readings during weeks four and five of Lent the Gospel Reading will be taken from St. John\u2019s Gospel with the focus being on the growing opposition between Jesus and \u201cthe Jews<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Gospel is one of the few narratives about Jesus that appears in all four Gospels, though in John it is placed at the beginning rather than at the end of Jesus\u2019 ministry, as the three synoptics position it.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Gospel is often referred to as Jesus acting in a fit of anger. The text does not say that. Jesus was acting as fulfilling the role of Messiah and as a prophet of his death, which the text does show if read carefully. Zeal is a much better description of Jesus\u2019 attitude.<\/p>\n

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Passover of the Jews was at hand,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The most important of all Jewish feasts was the Passover, celebrated annually in the Temple in Jerusalem on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month of Nisan (March\/April in our calendar). It commemorated the freeing of the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt (Ex. 12). Part of the celebration was a meal with lamb and unleavened bread. The feast pre\u2013figured the Last Supper, observed on the same day and commemorating the freeing of Christ\u2019s followers from the slavery of sin. The meal of the lamb and unleavened bread pre\u2013figured the Holy Eucharist, Jesus being the Lamb (Jn. 1: 39). Communion appears under the form of unleavened bread.<\/p>\n

Every male Israelite had to \u201cappear before the Lord God<\/em>\u201d (cf. Ex. 34: 23; Dt. 16: 16). The attendance was always very large.<\/p>\n

\u201cand Jesus went up to Jerusalem.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 People in the majority of countries refer to going to the capital city as \u201cgoing up\u201d or \u201cwent up<\/em>\u201d; then they \u201cgo down\u201d or \u201cwent down\u201d to the country.<\/p>\n

It was Jesus\u2019 custom to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the major feasts. This is the first of three Passover Feasts mentioned during the public ministry of Jesus in John\u2019s Gospel (Jn. 2: 13; 6: 4; 11: 55). This would indicate that Jesus\u2019 public ministry was more than two years, at least, but it would be possible for him to attend three such feasts within two years. The other three Gospels mention only one such feast because Matthew, Mark and Luke describe the public ministry as taking place in a single year. The reason for this difference is that the four evangelists were not concentrating on history as much as the theological explanations of what took place. That, of course, is more important.<\/p>\n

14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money\u2013changers 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\u2013changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, \u201cTake these things away; you shall not make my Father\u2019s house a house of trade.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money\u2013changers at their business.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 There are many references in the Old Testament condemning the trading that took place in the Temple to make it easy for worshippers to buy animals and pigeons suitable for sacrifice (Zech. 14: 21; Jer. 7: 11; Mal. 3: 1). One of the reasons for this was that the people were not paying the tithes they owed to the Temple. The prices charged by the traders were inflated.<\/p>\n

The Temple had five courts: (1) the holy of holies (2) the court of priests (3) the court of Israel (4) the court of women (5) the court of Gentiles. In this last and outer court trade took place and was not considered to be wrong or desecrating the Temple. The animals were guaranteed to be unblemished for sacrifice. They were bought but foreign currency, with images of emperors and kings was judged to be idolatrous and had to be exchanged for a particular Jewish coin, the half\u2013shekel. This was equivalent to a day\u2019s wage and also the price of the Temple tax.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 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\u2013changers and overturned their tables.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Sticks and anything that might be used as a weapon were not allowed in the Temple or its courts. The \u201ccords\u201d mentioned were probably made from rushes used to bed the animals.<\/p>\n

Traders, their staffs and the animals were included in this \u201call<\/em>\u201d that were driven away.<\/p>\n

A consequence of this action was that the Temple sacrifices were stopped, at least for a period, because now there was nothing to sacrifice. This was a symbol of what would happen after Jesus was crucified as will be made clear in verses 18-21 and in the second paragraph from here.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he told those who sold the pigeons, \u201cTake these things away;<\/em>\u201d \u2014 If the pigeons were driven out of the Temple they would have flown away or perhaps continued to live, even nest, in the Temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake these things away<\/em>\u201d had a deeper meaning which does not become clear until verses 19\u201322. Jesus is saying that the Temple sacrifices have come to their end and are not to be continued. He will substitute his body as the one sacrifice to be offered in the future. Verse 22 will make clear that the apostles did not understand what was taking place in the cleansing of the Temple until Jesus had risen from the dead. Only then did they understand and believe \u201cthe word Jesus said<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cyou shall not make my Father\u2019s house a house of trade.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is the first of twenty\u2013seven times in John\u2019s Gospel where he calls God \u201cmy Father<\/em>\u201d. This means that he is claiming to be \u201cThe Son of God<\/em>\u201d, the promised Messiah (Anointed One, the Christ).<\/p>\n

The Jewish belief was that God dwelt in the Temple as his home. Jesus now reclaims the Temple as his Father\u2019s home, not \u201ca house of trade<\/em>\u201d but to be used according to his wishes.<\/p>\n

Note the play on \u201cmy Father\u2019s house<\/em>\u201d and \u201cthe house of trade<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201ca house of trade\u201d <\/em>The particular antagonistic \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d with whom Jesus was in dialogue in this scene were the Temple authorities who should have known the Old Testament references to the Temple some of which were quoted by the other evangelists. One clear reference was to the Temple being \u201ca den of robbers<\/em>\u201d as a result of which \u201cI will cast you out<\/em>\u201d (Jer. 7: 11\u201315). A second reference was to Tobit 14: 5\u20137 where God\u2019s mercy was highlighted, promising the restoration of Jerusalem with a \u201cglorious<\/em>\u201d House of God. A third reference was to Zechariah 14: 20\u201321 \u2014 \u201cAnd there shall no longer be a trader in the House of the Lord of hosts<\/em>\u201d. Finally, Isaiah 56: 7 spoke of God giving the future Messianic Temple.<\/p>\n

By his words and actions here, it was obvious to the Jewish authorities that Jesus was claiming to act as a prophet.<\/p>\n

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, \u201cZeal for your house will consume me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHis disciples remembered that it was written,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The word \u201cremembered<\/em>\u201d is special in John\u2019s Gospel. It refers to the gradual ability of the disciples to understand that the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the Sacred Scriptures. Because of this reference to the Old Testament, they felt free to understand or interpret theologically what was first written in prophecy. The Bible being inspired, the Holy Spirit safeguards the accuracy of both Old and New Testament passages. \u201cBut the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 14: 26).<\/p>\n

\u201cZeal for your house will consume me.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The reference is to Psalm 69. In verse 9 John substitutes the future (\u201cwill consume<\/em>\u201d) for the past tense indicating that what he has done will cost him his life. This psalm is the most frequently quoted in the New Testament (Rm. 11: 9; 15: 13; Mt. 27: 48; Jn. 15: 25, 19: 28\u201329; Ac. 1: 20).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

18 The Jews then said to him, \u201cWhat sign have you to show us for doing this?\u201d 19 Jesus answered them, \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\u201d 20 The Jews then said, \u201cIt has taken forty\u2013six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?\u201d 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jews then said to him,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 When John in his Gospel frequently referred to \u201cthe Jews<\/em>\u201d he meant the hostile leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018What sign have you to show us for doing this<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d replied to Jesus by asking for \u201ca sign<\/em>\u201d. They were looking for proof by way of a miracle to prove his implicit claim to be a prophet and Messiah. Jesus did not equate signs and miracles. His \u201csign<\/em>\u201d of authority, that he was prophet and Messiah, was not the cleansing of the Temple which obviously was not a miracle. His proof appears in the following words.<\/p>\n

Jesus answered them, \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The words for \u201cdestroy<\/em>\u201d and \u201craise it up<\/em>\u201d could refer to the destruction of the Temple and its reconstruction or to his own crucifixion and resurrection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jews then said, <\/em>\u2018It has taken forty\u2013six years to build this temple,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe Jews<\/em>\u201d were focused on a material temple and missed the reference to Jesus\u2019 body as God\u2019s Temple. Unfortunately the English is not as clear as the Greek text which uses two words for Temple. One word, hier\u00f3n<\/em>, (v. 14) has the meaning of the Temple area. The second word, na\u00f3s<\/em>, (vv. 19\u201321) has the meaning of the inner sanctuary. Jesus used this second word when he referred to his body. \u201cFor in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily<\/em>\u201d (Col. 2: 9). He is the full presence of God on earth; he is the Temple of God by his incarnation.<\/p>\n

Building of the Jerusalem Temple began in 20\/19 B.C. This incident took place about 28\/27\/26 A.D., about forty\u2013six years later. In fact the building was not completed until about 63 A.D. The Romans destroyed it in 70 A.D.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018and will you raise it up in three days?<\/em>\u2019But he spoke of the temple of his body.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe Jews<\/em>\u201d had asked Jesus for a sign and he had replied \u201cDestroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up<\/em>\u201d. Their comment on this was another remark which should be read as one full of contempt: \u2018will you<\/em> (more or less, who do you think you are?) raise it up?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIn three days<\/em>\u201d is a reference to the resurrection which will be the sign \u201cthe Jews\u201d<\/em> requested. This \u201csign<\/em>\u201d endorses that his risen body is the Temple of his Father. This is corroborated by verse 22 now following.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this;<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The disciples did not understand what Jesus foretold about his body until he rose from the dead. Only then did they understand the scripture passage quoted in v. 17 and his reference to his risen body.<\/p>\n

\u201cand they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This spoken word was verse 19: \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; 24 but Jesus did not trust himself to them, 25 because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNow when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name<\/em>\u201d \u2014 John gives his comment on the dialogue between Jesus and \u201cthe Jews<\/em>\u201d. He refers to the crowd (\u201cmany<\/em>\u201d) and not \u201cthe Jews<\/em>\u201d. Not all but \u201cmany<\/em>\u201d believed \u201cin his name<\/em>\u201d, which means in his person. Faith is not just accepting propositions of doctrine but is a commitment to a person, Jesus Christ in this case. However, faith in him often could be, as here for \u201cmany<\/em>\u201d, was only as a wonder\u2013worker because of the miracles performed. This was the way in which some disciples believed in him also.<\/p>\n

John was not writing for the Jews but for Christians so while it appears that he was recording statements for the Jews of Jesus\u2019 time, John was making it clear to the Christians of his time, and those for whom he was writing, that there were practical lessons to be learnt by them; they had to check the authenticity of their faith. The following scene, his interview with Nicodemus, bears out this statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cwhen they saw the signs which he did;<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Apart from changing water into wine at Cana (Jn. 2: 1\u201311), John does not report any other miracles performed by Jesus. However, he does know of many (Jn. 3: 2; 4: 45). Matthew mentions some blind and lame people whom he cured during the cleansing of the Temple (Mt. 21: 14).<\/p>\n

\u201cbut Jesus did not trust himself to them,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus, in the following words, supplies the reason why he did not trust the faith of those with whom he was dealing.<\/p>\n

\u201cbecause he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man;<\/em> for he himself knew what was in man.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus could read peoples\u2019 hearts and minds and see them as fickle (Jn, 2: 25; 6: 61; CCC, <\/em>473). This is a claim to have divine knowledge like his Father (Jn. 1: 49; 4: 39; 16: 30).<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

I AM A TEMPLE OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who believe in God believe that he is in heaven, surrounded by angels and saints who worship and revere him for eternity. God has left it to the free choice and preferential love of each person to join him or not in this heavenly sanctuary. \u201cThose who die in God\u2019s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em>, 1023). Heaven is the original Temple where God dwells and is worshipped in a state of supreme definitive happiness, the community of all who are incorporated into Christ, the \u2018house\u2019 of prayer by those who enjoy the beatific vision.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Gospel reading treats of the Temple in Jerusalem, a material building that was the centre of Jewish life and worship. The people of Israel believed that God lived in the Temple among his people. The Letter to the Hebrews describes the earthly and material Temple as \u201ca copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuar<\/em>y\u201d (Hb. 8: 5).<\/p>\n

Jesus was very closely associated with this material Temple in Jerusalem: at age forty days he was presented in the Temple and dedicated to his Father; he continued to make annual trips there throughout his life; on one visit he stayed behind when his parents left so that he might be about his Father\u2019s business in the Temple; he paid the Temple tax; his zeal for the Temple drove him to clean the Temple of abuses, particularly by traders and money\u2013changers who were using it to make personal profits.<\/p>\n

This material Temple in Jerusalem belonged to the Old Testament and in today\u2019s Gospel Jesus prophesied that its life\u2013span had come to an end with the new covenant or relationship with God through Jesus in the New Testament. The New Temple, he said, would be his risen Body.<\/p>\n

\u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spoke of the temple of his body\u201d. <\/em>God\u2019s presence in the world is no longer to be a place but a person. Jesus himself is the New Temple, the centre of a new worship \u201cin spirit and truth<\/em>\u201d (Jn 4: 23f Jn 7:38). The Temple authorities were so wrapped up in their pre\u2013conceived ideals of what the Messiah should be like, they failed to recognise the signs he gave or even examine them. Their minds were closed to what was going on around them.<\/p>\n

Once again we see the danger of letting other people think, if not fail to think, on our behalf. Today\u2019s Gospel is clear. The Temple is where we encounter the presence of God. It is a person, Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate. We encounter him in the Church which St. Paul describes as the Body of Christ. It has a structure but it is more; it is a Person, head and members. It is \u201cthe sacrament [the sacred sign] of salvation. The Head comes to us primarily and especially in the seven sacraments and transforms us with and into his holiness.<\/p>\n

Then there is the truth that is almost unbelievable: we, unworthy as we are, can be Temples of the Holy Spirit, God indwelling in each of us. \u201cDo you not know that you are God\u2019s Temple and that God\u2019s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God\u2019s Temple, God will destroy him. For God\u2019s Temple is holy, and that Temple is you<\/em>\u201d (I Cor. 3: 16).<\/p>\n

As a Temple of God\u2019s Holy Spirit, we ask the question, \u2018Where does he abide in me?\u2019 Obviously in each heart, the seat of love. It is a loving presence on his part as on mine. Unfortunately, because we are so human and weak, we can neglect him, forget him or abandon him. Today\u2019s Gospel reading is about cleansing, to remind us that this is an excellent time to return purified to the Lord. May this Lenten cleansing bring us back to be worthy Temples of God dwelling in our hearts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT\u00a0 John 2:13\u201325 Setting 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Cleansing of Temple 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money\u2013changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4891"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8124,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891\/revisions\/8124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}