3rd Sunday of Lent

March 7, 2021

John 2:13-25

We, modern readers, often misunderstand today’s Gospel. This particular Jesus’ story becomes a basis for some to refuse the church building and parish vicinities for non-religious activities, however good its intention is. I personally agree that the inside of the Church’s building is a place set aside for worship and prayer. This is the sacred ground for people to encounter God and experience heaven.

However, today’s Gospel is more complicated than it seems. We tend to assume that Jesus cleansed the Temple from the animal vendors and money traders because Jesus saw them as not originally part of the Temple, but suddenly they were not mushrooming in the Temple’s area. Yet, if we go back to the time of Jesus, animal vendors and coin traders were part of the Temple’s system. The pilgrims from different parts of Palestine and the world streamed to the Temple every day, and though bringing their animal sacrifice was possible, it was not practical. The animals certainly would add inconvenient burdens, and they might get some brushes or injuries along the way. With the wounds or damages, the animals were no longer fit for the sacrifice. Thus, to offer a solution to these weary pilgrims, vendors in Jerusalem were ready to help by providing a healthy and worthy animal sacrifice.

Money changers are also tied to the Temple. To support the upkeep of the Temple, pilgrims were to donate some money, yet the Temple did not accept the Roman coins. Temple’s authority perceived the coins were a sign of foreign oppression. They are also considered blasphemous because the coin recognized Caesar as divine. Meanwhile, the Jews were not allowed to mint their coins. As a solution, they were accepting coins from the neighboring city of Tyre. Here comes the role of the coin traders. Without animal sellers and money exchange service, the Temple of Jerusalem would not perform as it should be. We can imagine how difficult it is to produce our own wine and bread for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Ordinarily, the animal vendors and coin traders were located near but outside the Temple. Yet, the problem began when the Temple’s authorities allowed these sellers to be inside the temple area, especially around the court of the gentiles. Jesus was doing what is right. However, farthest from the inner sanctuary, the court of the gentiles is still an integral part of the Temple and remains a place of prayer, especially for those non-Jewish people who believed in the God of Israel.

Jesus wanted to protect the house of God as a house of prayer and worship and desired that the Gentiles have a place in this house of prayer. While unfortunately, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Roman empire, Jesus’ vision lives on. His desire to unite the nations in prayer and worship of the true God is realized and achieved perfection in His body, the new Temple of God.

Where do we find now the Body [and Blood] of Christ? It is in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, people from different nations and languages gather to offer worthy worship to the true God. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we become the living testimony of this Jesus’ vision of worship for all nations. We can worship the true God because Jesus prepares the place for us.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Photocredit: John Applegate