mamabishop: Third Sunday in Lent

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Third Sunday in Lent

Third Sunday in Lent 2023

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2:13-22

In this reading from John's Gospel, we find Jesus at his fiercest. Merchants were profiting from the religious and spiritual needs of the people. His outrage came from the abuse of the temple, the sacred place, and the abuse of the people trying to offer a sacrifice. It's important to note that he moved the sheep and cattle out with a whip, yet he spoke to those selling doves. Doves were the only sacrifice poor people could afford, and most dove sellers were poor themselves. Today, we find those who would profit from the spiritual needs of the poorest. I can't but imagine that it outrages Jesus even now.

A Litany for the Third Sunday in Lent

Loving Creator, you still hear our cries

you respond in the world as it wakes

you hear us as we call in the darkest night

and you sent a Son to be always among us.