CLEANSING THE TEMPLE

The story of the cleansing of the temple is narrated by the four gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. It is the purification of the temple performed by Jesus. The temple in Jerusalem is the center of the religious, political, social, cultural and economic life of the Jews. The story reveals the radical actions of Jesus challenging the authority of the religious leaders in the temple. His zeal leads to His crucifixion. The cleansing of the temple reveals two important points. First is the significance of the actions of Jesus in the temple. He made a whip out of cords and drove the animal sellers and the sheep, oxen and doves out of the temple area. He overturned the tables of the money changers and spilled their coins. The money changers and animal sellers are necessary in the sacrificial system of he temple. Only first rate and unblemished animals are accepted in the burnt offering. The money exchange is also necessary because only the Jewish money is accepted in the offering. The actions of Jesus reveal that the sacrificial system of the temple has become the source of exploitation, corruption, distortion and deception. It is not open anymore to the revelation of God. It has become a marketplace. Jesus’ actions reveal that the era of the New Temple has come. The prophecy of the prophets that the temple sacrifices would no longer be necessary is fulfilled because the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is once and for all. The second point is the meaning of the words of Jesus when He said: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up!” He was speaking of the Temple of His body. He is the New and True temple. The building and the physical place are no longer needed. He is the place where people encounter God. In Jesus we have full access to God. His self-sacrificial love revealed on the Cross grants us reconciliation with God and allows us to participate in the life of God. We are restored to our original dignity, created in the image and likeness of God. That is why, Saint Paul said that our bodies are temples and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This Lent, we are called to remove our mask and come out into the light of love, truth and love. We are called to worship God in spirit and in truth. To worship Him from the heart and with the very lives we live. As Temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to love one another and let go of our false securities and hopes. The Church is not a cafeteria or supermarket where we get what we want but a visible sign of God’s Kingdom of love, peace, joy and service. Let us again invite Jesus to purify and cleanse us of the corruption, distortion and deception that reign our lives so that we become truly