Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111
Zeal for the Temple
Brethren, how do we explain the only action in the Bible where Jesus uses physical force, that is, when Jesus drove out the money changers from the temple, as we see in today's Gospel? Was it out of anger? Many church fathers say it is holy anger. But the gospel clearly states that it is out of zeal and love he has for his Father's to only turn it into the house of prayer where only God is worshipped and not anyone else, a house of prayer. In justification for his audacious action, Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:11). It was the desire to make Holy the temple that made him drive the money changers from the temple.
The money changers charged extra money, and those selling animals were often sold ten times more expensive than the normal market prices. He certainly stepped on the toes of all those who benefitted from this injustice and legalised robbery and the broad victimisation of the poor pilgrims. With the approval of the temple priests, who also benefitted from the temple tax, many people were using the practice of divine worship to make a profit for selfish gain, turning the temple into a marketplace. Jesus could see this clearly, and many people would have also sensed the corruption of these practices. Though they needed to purchase animals for the ritual sacrifices and Passover meal, many of them were most likely disturbed by this abuse. Jesus' actions and words were a consolation to the oppressed people; hence, they were “hanging on his words” and, in the same way, angered those responsible for the corruption because of the loss of their business.
But was the temple meant for corrupt businessmen? No! Long before King Solomon had built the Temple, God had instructed the people to construct a Tent of Meeting to hold the Ark of the Covenant. According to tradition, the Ark contained two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod, and a pot of manna. The Ten Commandments are God’s spoken law engraved in stone. Aaron’s rod represents the fruitfulness of the tribe of Levi, the tribe dedicated exclusively to the priesthood. The manna is the bread that came down from Heaven to sustain the Israelites in their forty years of wandering the desert when they fled slavery from Egypt around the 13th century B.C. All this was a reminder of the covenant that God established with his chosen people to preserve true worship so as to be a light for the nations. Three centuries later, King Solomon would finally build a permanent home for the Ark—the Temple.
As we have seen in previous days, the Temple was the central place of worship for the Jewish people. But above all, it was a place where souls could go to be sure that their heartfelt prayers to God would be heard. Upon installing the Ark in the Holy of Holies, King Solomon, by his testimony of prayer, revealed the Temple as a place of heartfelt prayer to God, that he may continue to dwell among them (1 Kings 8:27-30): “But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even Heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built. Yet regard the prayer and plea of your servant, O LORD my God, so that you may hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying before you today. May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you may hear the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May you hear from Heaven, your dwelling place. May you hear and forgive.”
This was the real and only function of the temple. Jesus could not stand the abuses done in his Father's house and so had to use physical force and then after used the temple for preaching every day. The same zeal is still burning in Jesus to clean our churches today. Today, haven't we also turned our churches into robber's dens instead of houses of prayer? Many are using churches to do their business and for their personal gains, misusing the church and the word of God to satisfy one's needs. Jesus is so angry with us, and we need to repent as fast as possible before Jesus' anger strikes. We are wounding him, and though he is merciful, his anger will finally strike if we continue like this. He desires to make us holy; let us welcome the opportunity.
Since our bodies are temples of God, Jesus desires to make each one of us clean and holy as the individual temple of the Holy Spirit. Most often we have turned our bodies, even our whole selves, into sinners' den, thus making Jesus angry as he is opposed to sin. However, Jesus, out of his mercy, wants to make us share his holiness by cleansing us. Are you ready to use this opportunity? There are thieves in our interior who attempt to rob the faith, hope, charity, and love that give it light, life, and a future. Let's examine our lives today and see where we need Jesus' cleaning. If we need cleansing, then let's hang on to Jesus' words. Jesus desires to make us clean, but let us not wait until his anger strikes.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, just as you came into the temple with passion and enthusiasm to defend and claim what was your Father’s, remember also that I am yours and come to my defence before the lies and doubts that can sometimes plague me and those I love. You reveal that the name of God is mercy and that his face is love, forgiveness, and life. I wish to welcome this grace into my life. Come, Holy Spirit, and speak your truth in these places where I need it most. Come cleanse me, Lord Jesus. Amen
Be blessed
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