Gospel: Jn 2:13–25 (or Jn 4:5-42)
As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and moneychangers
seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple court, together with the oxen and sheep. He knocked over the tables of the
money-changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, “Take all this away, and stop making a marketplace of my Father’s house!” His disciples recalled
the words of Scripture: Zeal for your House devours me like fire. The Jews then questioned Jesus, “Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do
this?” And Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then replied, “The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years,
and will you raise it up in three days?” Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these
words; then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken. Jesus stayed in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, and many believed in his name,
when they saw the miraculous signs he performed. But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all of them. He had no need of evidence about anyone,
for he himself knew what there was in each one.

Lectio Divina:

READ: Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. He got angry seeing the vicinity of
the Temple being turned into a commercial space. He drove out the merchants and money
lenders. Jesus’ action is later understood by His disciples in the light of His Resurrection.

REFLECT: Jesus got angry at the robust commerce that sprang around the Temple of
Jerusalem. After all, at any given day, more so during the Sabbath, the Temple attracts a
lot of faithful. Because of this, the Temple authorities made use of the Courts of Gentile as
a commercial space. The Temple must have earned huge sums of money for its rent. More
so, some enterprising priests who inspect the offered animals brought by the people have
reasons to reject the offering because of imagined blemish. The people in turn will be forced
to buy from animal sellers who charges exorbitant fees for their goods. These sellers will
forward the priests’ share of the cost for facilitating the sale afterwards. This is not a secret.
Everybody knows but nobody has the strength to confront the system. That is, until Jesus
comes along. He criticized the commerce arising from the devotion of people. He reminds
everyone that the Temple is a house of prayer. Because of this, He placed Himself in the
line of danger. He now confronts the religious authorities who tolerated this happening
in the Temple itself.

RESPOND: When we are in sacred places, let us put premium to the encounter of God and
set aside our mentality to do commerce. Even our prayers must be devoid of anything that
smacks of making transaction with God. We don’t have to do it. God knows what we need.
So no coercion of God to do something for the promised number of novenas we will make,
the candles we will light, and the masses or donations we will offer as long as He answers
our petition. We don’t have to trade anything to receive God’s grace.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021