Third Sunday of Lent (B)

The gospel of this Sunday has two aspects, both of which are worth underlining.

There is first the cleansing of the Temple. We see Jesus taking strong measures, making a whip, driving out the animals, scattering the coins, because the Temple, his Father’s house, has been turned into a market.

This gospel is proposed to us during Lent which is a time of spiritual cleansing, of repentance and conversion. We are invited to turn away from sin and turn more whole-heartedly towards God.

People were surprised at the action of Jesus. They were used to seeing animals in the Temple, being sold for offering in sacrifice; they were used to see the tables of the money changers providing the special Temple currency. “What is this man trying to do?” they might say. “It has always been like this.”

Similarly with each one of us, we may say: “I have always behaved this way. Why should I change?” Yet just because things are always done in a particular way, this does not make that particular way right. Lent is a time for us to examine our consciences, to reflect on our habits, and see if they are to be changed. Let us ask the Lord to give us wisdom and understanding to realize what needs to be corrected, and strength and courage to undertake this correction.

The second aspect is connected with the Resurrection. When Jesus is asked for a sign to justify his action he replies; “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.”  These words were not immediately understood, but later the disciples of Jesus realized that he was referring to his passion and death which would be followed by his Resurrection.

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter when we will celebrate the events of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Do we understand what the Resurrection of Jesus means? I wonder.

We know, yes, that Resurrection is victory over death, that it is New Life. But what is this New Life? How is it lived? I think we would have difficulty in explaining this; I certainly would. And yet we are called to go forward towards the feast of Easter with confidence in the Lord.

In some ways this is like the situation we are in regarding COVID. We are thankfully moving forward to a post-COVID time. We are not quite sure how it will be. It will not be a return to things as they were before. It will not be a return to “the normal”, but rather the adoption of a “new normal”. What will this be? We don’t know exactly, but we can perhaps point to some features of it.

Experts tell us that the virus will not disappear, which means that we shall have to take the necessary means not to be infected. It is the same with sin in our lives, because we are frail human beings we are always liable to fall into sinful ways, so we shall need to remain vigilant.

During the pandemic we have come to appreciate more the contribution to society of so many people: doctors, nurses, carers, but also cleaners, security guards, transport workers. This will need to continue. And just as we have followed the advice of scientists in order to overcome the virus, so we shall need to heed their warnings about the abuse of creation which can bring about other epidemics.

Solidarity, the care for others, has also been a feature of this time of the pandemic. This also should continue, that we be concerned for one another, that we be ready to help one another.

Is this a long way from the Gospel? It may seem so, but in fact it is not.  In the first reading today we heard how the Chosen People were given the commandments and God said to them: “I show kindness to those who love me and keep my commandments.” In another part of the Gospel we hear that when Jesus was asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” He answered: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets also” (Mt 22:34-39).  The Apostle Paul repeats this teaching: “All the commandments… are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbor as yourself” (Rom 8:9).

In this Eucharist we ask Jesus, the beloved Son of God who has given his life for us, to give us the strength to fulfil these two commandments.