THE WORD
Ez 47: 1–2.8–9.12 / 1 Cor 3: 9–11.16–17 / Jn 2: 13–22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, 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. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
IN OTHER WORDS
In Jerusalem I still remember, almost word for word, what I heard from the loudspeaker. It said: “Israel is the center of the world, for here is located Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the center of Israel, for here is located the Temple. The Temple is the center of Jerusalem, for here is located the Holy of Holies.” For hundreds of years, since the time of Solomon (1000 BC), the Temple was the unifying factor of the people of Israel. During the big feasts especially the Passover even those living from distant countries would come as pilgrims to worship in the Temple. It was convenient for them to buy the animals to be sacrificed at stalls nearest to the Temple. There were money-changers since many came from foreign lands with different currencies. Unfortunately what might have started as a pious service has degenerated into a profitable business. The Temple, the most holy haven of worship, has turned into a marketplace.
Now, I try to imagine Jesus – usually gentle, loving and compassionate – with a whip of cords in his hands. He chased the vendors of sacrificial animals and themoney changers, overturning their tables. He commanded those selling doves to remove their merchandise. “Stop making my Father’s house a market place.” Curiously nobody dared to stop him. Nevertheless the Jews asked him for a sign. His answer was intriguing: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The evangelist John explained that Jesus was no longer referring to the building made of stones and precious materials, he was talking about his own body.
As Jesus predicted, the temple which took “forty-six years” of hard labor to renovate was razed to the ground in the 70’s AD. What is left is a small portion which used to be popularly called the “Wall of Lamentation”. There pious Jews continue to pray until now in front of the ruins hoping to rebuild it. They don’t know that the real Temple has already risen from the dead. God’s presence is no longer confined to one place. God is there in the heart of each believer.
- Xene Sanchez, SVD (Congo)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.