Sunday 3 March 2024

Today is Sunday 3rd March, the third Sunday of Lent.


The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing, Encore un peu de temps: “In a little while I will make heaven and earth tremble. Then the One desired by all nations will appear. I will fill this temple with glory and to this place I will bring peace.”

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 2: 13-25

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

In today’s reading, as we join Jesus at the Temple near the time of the Passover, we see how passionate Jesus is about his Father’s house, and his anger at the irreverent misuse of it.

Imagine that you are a money changer, sat at your table by the temple, surrounded by customers…pause…now you hear these words of Jesus, addressed to you.

‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’

What impact do these words have on you?

Consider now, your heart as the Father’s house, the place where he resides.

Is there anything that Jesus might want to drive out to restore a place of prayer within you?

Perhaps there is something that distracts you from worship or prayer or takes the place of time spent in the company of the Lord.

As you listen to the reading again notice what Jesus says about the temple, being his own body.

Jesus said to those around him,
‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’

As you end your prayer today, spend time with the Lord and in your own words, give thanks to him for this temple - his broken body, and his resurrection.

You have given all to me
To you Lord, I return it
Everything is yours, do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me
Amen.