The Cleansing of the Temple
This is actually the Third temple
-
1st - Solomon
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2nd – Was destroyed and rebuilt After
Babylonian Exile 539 BC
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3rd - Temple of Herod. Destroyed in 70 all left is Western or “Wailing” Wall.
Our Jewish friends were and still are people of the
Covenant – try to live by the 10 commandments
First three – honor and worship God. One of the ways was to come to Jerusalem to
offer sacrifice, especially on Passover.
1) Some had to come a long way. Could bring their own
animals for sacrifice but they had to be without blemish – also, priests would
not quickly certify animals from outside – so they had a cornered market. Kept
prices high.
2) Also – the money had to be changed into
shekels - Roman money was unclean - could not use money
that had pagan images. They would charge a high rate of exchange.
3) All the buying and selling could get out of
hand. -
who could even pray with all the noise????
All this gave Jesus a righteous anger - things
are not in right relationship with God - some anger is good anger – can be for
a good purpose – like the students in Florida or the Me Too Movement.
On this day, Jesus flipped the tables and said: “my
house shall be a house of praye!.”
He cleaned out the temple. It was Time for a radical
cleaning.
This Scripture has a significant place in Lent
St. Paul wrote -
“Are you not a temple of the Holy Spirit?”
Lent is a time for cleaning of OUR temple!
The Perfect Instrument
- Sacrament of Reconciliation
Why not? Some
excuses:
1) Feelings of guilt and shame -
face truth. Truth is difficult I
may have to change. Like maybe I have to put software filters on my home
Internet to keep bad stuff out.
Remember –
all about the mercy of God who forgives & welcomes us back!
2) There were changes for those of us who are a bit
older -
do I have to go face to face, how about old act of contrition Listen: go the way you always did!
3) May not know what to confess - Sometimes children say – I have no sins
. What if we were to ask Mom??? examine your
conscience every day. Look to 10 commandments as a helpful guide.
4) Why tell a priest? Not an intermediary, but a mediator – a
channel of the power of the Holy Spirit
- You leave knowing, without
question, you are forgiven!
Godfather III
Don Corleone tells the Cardinal – a legitimate deal
with the Vatican bank gone sour
Cardinal picks up stone “It has been lying in water a very long time.
The water has not penetrated it. He smashes the stone Look – perfectly dry. Same has happened to
the men of Europe – surrounded by Christianity for centuries, but Christ does
not live in their hearts.”
This is what we call a hardened heart.
Why not invite Jesus into our hearts for Lent? Cleanse
the Temple – Get ready for Easter!
