Gospel: John 2:13–25

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.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
many began to believe in his name
when they saw the signs he was doing.

But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.

He himself understood it well.

Reflection:

The Gospel for today talks about the temple of God as the most sacred place of all. Jesus was not satisfied with the respect the people were showing in the Temple. This was a sacred place where God in a specific way was present. All should be in touch with him there, reverencing him and talking to him. Commercial trading was inappropriate in such a place. The Son of God made an effort to cleanse the area.

This literally means that the temple of God should always be the house of prayer, not for commercial use. I remember way back Covid hits us, I was able to travel to Cebu and my goal there is to visit Simala. When we got there, I was upset by how the place is crowded. The “crowded” means another thing. It was understandable that people will flock to the place but when vendors are present, it is another thing. The place should be a house of prayer, but it turns out to be different.

This is just an eye opener to each and every one of us should be reminded that there is a temple of God living in us. Our body is the real temple of the Holy Spirit and we should not exploit it.

Jesus knew what was in everybody.’ Jesus, you gaze on me endlessly and lovingly, and I thank you for that. But what do you see in me? Tell me things about myself that will help me to cultivate in your likeness. Make my heart more still, so that I can hear your voice calling me through all adversities. Make my heart like into thine, so that I can see the neighbors as openly as you see them.

My prayer today might remember all who suffer and are threatened in their commitment to justice and right religion. We must all be aware that we have the right thing to do and that includes commitment to God and God alone. – Clea | Helpline PH