Temple Spirituality

Today’s Gospel Text:  The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." 18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:13-22

Reflection: I remember those days as children when we would set about cleaning the house on account of the great festivals.  Each one would voluntarily get into the act without any cajoling or instructions.

This was not so otherwise, when work would seem drudgery.  What made the difference was the festivities which brought in certain joy, fun and above all a sense of responsibility.

The Passover for the Jews were special moments too and we see that for Jesus too it was a special occasion to be in his Father’s house and to see to the affairs of the house and its cleanliness.

I am sure his heart may have carried the same joy to see the house clean and tidy; for was it not his Father' house that he was at home and peace.

What if it was a mere replica of the heavenly Jerusalem but nevertheless it still was a special place.

Cleanliness is a great moment of celebration and cleanliness makes celebration easy, light, joyful, filled with fun and hygiene. 

Though what mattered ultimately was the real temple which was his body, when Jesus cleansed the temple he was communicating a double message: The external temple and more so the internal one where he needs to dwell. 

There is place in the heart of everyone which God wants to make a temple of dwelling and made possible by the death of Jesus and the coming in to dwell of the promised Holy Spirit.

We could have our many trades in that house such as buying and selling with God, threatening and bargaining with him, hide and hoard and seek the many concessions.

By allowing Christ Jesus to rid this temple of ours of the many trades that does not glorify him we could surely rise with him in his resurrection.

Prayer:  Lord, by your grace help me to rid this temple of mine of all that is not of your kingdom. 

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