Third Sunday of Lent

Reading I Ex 20:1-17

Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Reading II 1 Cor 1:22-25

Gospel Jn 2:13-25

Jesus cleanses the temple – his Father’s house, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

“But why did Christ use such violence? He was about to heal on the sabbath day and to do many things that appeared to them transgressions of the law. However, so that he might not appear to be acting as a rival to God and an opponent of his Father, he takes occasion to correct any such suspicion of theirs… He did not merely ‘cast them out’ but also ‘overturned the tables’ and ‘poured out the money,’ so that they could see how someone who threw himself into such danger for the good order of the house could never despise his master. If he had acted out of hypocrisy, he would have only advised them, but to place himself in such danger was very daring. It was no small thing to offer himself to the anger of so many market people or to excite against himself a most brutal mob of petty dealers by his reproaches and the disruption he caused. This was not, in other words, the action of a pretender but of one choosing to suffer everything for the order of the house. For the same reason, to show his agreement with the Father, he did not say ‘the holy house’ but ‘my Father’s house.’ See how he even calls him ‘Father,’ and they are not angry with him. They thought he spoke in a more general way, but when he went on and spoke more plainly of his equality, this is when they become angry.”

(excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 23.2)

What is keeping Jesus from cleansing my temple? My heart?

Do I want to be cleansed? Do I want to be healed?

?