St. Mary's Church Elizabeth, IL

5/31

Where is God!

Read John, chapter 2, verses 13 to 25

This episode known as the cleansing of the Temple, is well attested in the Synoptic Gospels as well (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48).  But the difference in John is that it comes at the very beginning of Jesus' public life and as his first gesture ever in Jerusalem, as a challenge to the symbol of God's dwelling amoung his people: the Temple.

John also shows special interest int he timing of this first public gesture in Jerusalem; : "The Passover of the Jews was near" (verse 13).  This cannot be incidental, since Passover was one of the three major festivals that involved a pilgrimage to Jerusalem's Temple.  It gives a Passover background to what Jesus accomplishes in chasing away the vendors.  Passover will be mentioned again int he Gospel (John 6:4; 11:55 and 13:1), and after quite some time has elapsed, which allows us to believe that Jesus' ministry spans a period of abot three years.

                    "Destroy this Temple, and In three days I will raise it up."

                                                                                                                John 2:19

So, "Jesus went up to Jerusalem" (verse 13) as a pilgrim, one among many.  But he soon acts like a prophet combining symbolic gestures and powerful words: "Take these things out of here!  Stop making  my Father's house a marketplace!" (verse 16).  Like prophets of old, Amos, Hosea, Isaih and Jeremiah in particular, Jesus questions the commercial overtone of activities around the Temple.

Jesus goes even further, as he now challenges the very existence of the Temple, alluding to its future destruction and reconstruction: "But he was speaking of the temple of his body" (verse 21).  God is now present in Jesus and will remain forever present int he body of the Risen Christ.

     In what ways do I see God's presence now in the Risen Christ?

Prayer Starter:  Lord strengthen my faith in you and change whatever need to be changed in me so that I can see your ongoing presence in the world.

Fr. Joachim

Next Sunday, we will be clebrating the Eucharis together with the Most Reverend Bishop David J. Malloy, the Shepherd of the Diocese of Rockford.  The Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.