LENT IS A TIME OF OVERTURNING THE TABLES

 

                                A Reflection for the 3^rd Sunday in Lent, Year B

                            Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

                                Readings: Exod. 20:1-17, 1 Cor. 1:22-25, John 2:13-25

 

One of the major themes in the gospel according to John is the Theme of Replacement; the replacement of the old rites with the new. One of the places where this theme plays out is in the cleansing of the temple which happens to be the gospel reading of this third Sunday in Lent (John 2:13-25). The cleansing of the temple is one of those events that is found in all the four gospels. However, while John places the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Matthew, Mark and Luke place it near the end of Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 21:12–17, Mark 11:15–19, and Luke 19:45–48).

According to the Law of Moses, every Jew is to go to Jerusalem for three festivals each year: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16; Exodus 23:14-17). So, shortly before the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 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 (John 1:13-15). The atmosphere that Jesus met in the temple was similar to that found in a market place. The temple had become for the people, a place of transactions and exchange.

The above actions of Jesus should not be taken on a face value. They are prophetic actions with deep spiritual meanings. Through the actions, Jesus replaced the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, its feasts, and its cultic objects. The temple of Jesus’ body replaced the Jerusalem temple. Also, with that act, Jesus demanded a complete reversal of standards. The season of Lent is simply a time of reversal of standards and values, of replacement of bad habits with virtues, of shedding off the bad feathers, and of overturning the tables of sin. What are the values and standards that we hold dear that need to be replaced with better ones? Which old tables in our life need to be overturned and replaced with new ones?

We can also learn a great deal from Jesus’ moral outrage towards the money-changers. Truly, there are times when the lack of anger at a great injustice shows disengagement with reality. To be angry with the right person, for the right reason and at the right degree is a 'legitimate anger'. As St. Paul says, “It is not anger that is evil but what the anger causes us to do that is unrighteous” (Ephesians 4:6). The action of Jesus challenges us to never be afraid to speak up against evil and acts of injustice in our society. Let us not because of fear, favor or other forms of sentiments, close our eyes to evil. To do so is to become complicit. Lastly, let us bear in mind that even in our time, the Church (the body of Christ) is meant to be a place of sanctification and prayer to God and as members of that body, we should always keep ourselves undefiled.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, we thank you for an example of Jesus’ moral outrage and cleansing of the temple. Help us to stand strong against every wrong and injustice. Cleanse the temples of our hearts from every stain of sin and make them holy places fit for your dwelling. Amen.