John 2,13-25.
Symbolic gestures are important in life. Here in this story Jesus takes responsibility not just for cleansing the temple but for replacing it. The Temple was the house where God dwelt among his people. It was the only place in Israel where sacrifice was offered to God. Coming up to the Passover Feast, its precincts would have echoed with the sounds of merchandise for sacrifice; lowing cattle, 3rd bleating sheep, cooing pigeons, jingling coins and chattering people. Money- changers did a roaring trade as pilgrims bought temple coinage, the only currency allowed in the Temple.
In cleansing the temple Jesus was doing more than objecting to the way market forces had transformed it into a den where commerce and profit had become idols competing with the One true God of Israel. He was doing something completely new and radical, replacing the temple and its sacrifices. Only in John is reference made to the expulsion of sheep and oxen, the raw material of sacrifice. They will become redundant by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ himself, at his Passover, his death and resurrection.
When the Jews asked for a sign to justify his action, (only in John), Jesus makes a statement about the resurrection which nobody would have understood at the time. “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The “temple of his body,” not the temple, will be raised up in three days, and will become the new dwelling place of God among his people. When the resurrection happened the disciples (eventually) understood what he meant and believed in the scripture and what he said. In post-resurrection-times the Temple of Jerusalem is redundant. The individual Christian and the Christian community and the Eucharist are the new places where God dwells among his people.
When the final edition of John’s gospel was written about 110 AD, the temple had been destroyed (c 70 AD), and Jewish Christians had been expelled from the synagogue, because of their faith in Jesus, and they had become a separate community. In the risen Jesus a radical transformation not only of religion but of everything has taking place. However, nothing has been lost in the process because having Jesus is having everything that was, and more. But it takes the viewpoint of faith to see it.
All institutions, religious and secular, need to reform themselves regularly. Ecclesia semper reformanda – the church is always being reformed, and always in need of reform, because it is a divine institution managed by flawed human beings. The Church in its history has had 21 General Councils, each of which reformed aspect(s) of its belief and/or practice – a fascinating story!
Individual Christians, too, are in need of regular reform. Reform consists of a renewed commitment to our calling as Christians, to our God-given vocation as an individuals and as members of the Christian community. Where in your life do you need reform?
Today’s gospel invites Catechumens preparing for Baptism this Easter, the First Scrutiny), and all Christians, to look at their own faith in the risen Lord. Does your faith give you values that are different from those of today’s secular culture in which we live. Is there evidence that it does? How much time do you give to prayer each day? When did last give a gift to some charity or worthy cause?
Fr Geoff O’Grady