CLEANSING AND REBUILDING OUR BODY

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT. YEAR B.
March 15, 2009.
(First reading: Exodus 20:1-17) (Psalm 19:8-11)
(Second reading: 1 Corinthian 1:22-25) (Gospel: John 2:13-25)


CLEANSING AND
REBUILDING OUR BODY

I. Jesus cleanses his own body.
Jesus cleansed his own body when he forcefully drove out of the temple (John 2:14) "those who sold oxen, sheep and doves, as well as the money changers" . His forceful actions were done onto himself for he is one body with all human beings, including those who were desecrating the temple, his Body.

The cleansing of the temple is the sacrifice of oneself rather than violence against others.
Any person who cleanses himself from wrongdoing, injustice, oppression and aggression, is not committing violence against himself, but rather, is restoring his own goodness, his own righteousness through self sacrifice.

Giving the condition of his Body, Jesus was urged to cleanse it: "Zeal for your house will consume me" (John 2:17).

The gospel says that "the Jews [who were present when Jesus drove the merchants and money changers out of the temple] said to him: 'What sign can you show us for doing this?'" (John 2:18). The Jews understood very well that Jesus was acting as if the temple was his; thus they wanted to know under what authority he claimed ownership over the temple.

Jesus answered: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). Jesus, in whom the temple - and all that exists - is created, can also cleanse it and rebuild it.

II. Jesus Rebuilds his own body.
Jesus rebuilt his body - the Temple - by his resurrection, when he was raised from the dead.

As our world (the body of Jesus) becomes increasingly desecrated, Jesus shows us powerful "signs" that will bring about cleansing to our world, that will raise humanity from death.

Behold the "signs": We, human beings, will cleanse and rebuild our world only when we relate to one another as members of one body, renouncing to injustice, wars and destruction.

We will be able to cleanse and rebuild our world when "Zeal for [the house of God, that is, the house of humanity] will consume us".

Just as Jesus cleansed and rebuilt "the temple of his body", so must we cleanse and rebuild our world because the world is our body.