Jesus Cleanses Our Temple
2021년 3월 7일Jesus Cleanses Our Temple
< Third Sunday of Lent >
Don’t let Jesus’s title “Prince of Peace” fool you. There is one example of Jesus getting angry and violent, at least against property. Filled with righteous indignation, when he saw the Court of the Gentiles crowded with money changers and sacrificial animals and vendors, he couldn’t contain himself. Making a whip out of cords, he drove out the animals and overturned the money changers’ tables. According to the synoptic gospels, this was the event that convinced his enemies to put Jesus to death.
The Courtyard of the Gentiles was the only place non-Jews (us!) could pray to the God of Israel within the Temple precincts. Since animals were necessary for sacrifice, the Pharisees had a live market outside of the temple. The Sadducees set up a rival market inside the Gentiles’ courtyard, so they had to pray among the oxen, sheep, and pigeons. Jesus was furious. He was so angry that our right to pray had been violated he created quite a violent scene that eventually lead to his arrest, trial, condemnation and death.
The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., 37 years after Jesus’ death. But because of his Resurrection and sending the Holy Spirit, each of us is now a living temple. Our hearts and souls are meant for God alone. What profane thoughts or activities have you let contaminate our souls? Jesus died to earn us the right to pray. Are we ready to invite him in to cleanse us of all sin and unholiness?