3rd Sunday of Lent - Year B

3rd Sunday of Lent - Year B

Dearly Beloved,

Last week, we heard about God's covenant or promise.  God made a covenant with Father Abraham.  God promised to bless Abraham by giving him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore.  Last week we also heard the story of the Transfiguration.  Christ is transfigured on Mt. Tabor, giving the Apostles a glimpse of him as the Beloved Son.  The Heavenly Father confirms the identity of Christ: "This is my beloved Son, listen to him."  The new and eternal covenant is made through His beloved Son.  (The covenant is recalled and celebrated at the Holy Mass).

In this week's reading, the focus is on God's original purpose and goal for humanity.  To be God's people means to obey the 10 commandments that was given to Moses on Mt Sinai, written on the stone tablets.  It is to love God, and to avoid doing anything that would jeopardize our relationship with our neighbor.  Later in the Gospel, Christ summarizes all the laws under the Gospel of Love/Charity: "Love God and love neighbor."  

St. Paul speaks about the cross of Christ as a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.  In other words, many didn't understand how an eternal God could suffer death on the cross, and how could we worship a God that died a criminal's death.  St Paul explains that the love and wisdom of God is manifested in the cross of Christ.  The Holy Cross was the ultimate purpose of the divine plan.  

In the Gospel today, we hear about Christ purifying the Temple.  The purpose of the Temple was to offer sacrifices to God.  People brought their sheeps, goats, oxen, doves, wheat, grain (first fruits of the harvest); they brought them to the temple so that the priest could offer these oblations to God.  

But to make it easier for people to offer sacrifices, instead of bringing their own things, (which may be quite cumbersome to carry long distances), they could easily purchase the items at the temple.  Some families didn't have farms, or they were in a different kind of trade.  Having the sacrificial victims at the temple made it easy for them to purchase the items.   

It would be like if we traveled to Israel today, and if we wanted to buy some souvenirs for family/friends, some places do and some places don't take the American Dollar.  To trade the dollar, depending on certain places, we could get about 5 shekels for one American Dollar.  Included in the trade of bank notes and coins, are the exchange rates that are charged.  Those who had money profited from this business.  The moneychangers were the ancient forex at work.  

So, this was a good market to be in!  That's why many tables and booths were setup near the Temple to meet the demands and needs of people, and to make things easier and convenient for travelers.  The tables that were closest to the temple, the prices of the items were much higher than the tables furthest away (for the sake of convenience). 

You can imagine that Christ traveled to the Temple on many occasions because he was a faithful and devout Jew.  And he saw these kinds of operations taking place countless times.  But this time, since it was nearing his Passover, he publicly taught a lesson to the people.  He overturned the tables, made a cord, and drove people from the temple.  He says: "My Father's house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a marketplace."  Christ also refer to his rising from the dead.  "In three days, I will restore the Temple.  He was speaking about the temple of his body."

What lessons can be learned?  In things related to God, taking shortcuts or serving God only because it is convenient or easy may not be good for the soul.  For instance, I remember one parishioner called me and wanted his granddaughter baptized, and he said he wanted to make it as easy as possible for his granddaughter.  I told him that if you make it too easy, she may not appreciate and value the gift of faith.  Also, for instance, I usually give an easy penance for confessions like say three Hail Marys and spend 5 minutes in prayer.  And this one person responded by saying: "Father, you're being too easy on me, I will pray an entire rosary and I will spend an hour in Adoration."  I'm not going to argue against that.  So I said to him: "You are not far from the kingdom."  Priests are very merciful and nice so we give easy penances, but it doesn't mean we can't do more for the sake of grace.  

When you're tough on your descendants, it doesn't mean that you don't love them.  When you're too easy on your descendants, it doesn't mean that you love them.  

Second lesson is to closely examine the prayer rituals and be open to change and spiritual growth.  The people 2000 years ago may have been very faithful and devout, but the rituals may not have changed their hearts.  That is why the Lord summarized the commandments under the Gospel of Love: love God and love neighbor.  The Eucharist, Confessions, Divine Office, and personal prayers and devotions, stewardship of time, talent and treasures,  are meant to make us holy, good, loving, peaceful and generous peoples.  Otherwise, they are just meaningless, empty gestures.  If the rituals don't change us for the good and better, it doesn't mean that the gestures are not effective vehicles of grace.  

Thirdly, silence is our friend when praying or listening to God's word.   But silence may not be a good friend of fraternal correction.  When we see injustice or any moral wrongdoing, it is charitable to speak up with the purpose to help a sister or brother in Christ stay on the good path.  At the temple, Christ spoke up and said: "My Father's house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a marketplace."  

May God's word today as challenging as it may be, enlightened our minds, strengthen our will, and breathe life into our souls.  

Glory be...