Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
“What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
After the desecration of the Capitol Building on January 6th, I think we have had quite enough of people invading sacred places and wreaking havoc. I wonder how many rioters thought they were imitating Jesus during that incursion. Some perhaps, expected to be arrested, indicted, tried, convicted, and punished with jail terms. Perhaps they hoped that, by destroying this temple, the spirit of democracy would rise and restore the building to its original glory as the People’s Capitol. Many, I think, went home wondering, “What have I done now?” Some are still anxiously waiting for the FBI to appear on their doorstep.
Jesus had a far better understanding of his purpose that day. He was consumed with zeal for God’s house and he knew that a temple would have to be destroyed and raised in three days. Some scripture scholars believe this incident forced the Jerusalem establishment to act. They had heard of his coming for months. Saint Luke describes a well-organized mass movement of people marching toward Jerusalem and expecting an apocalyptic event. A huge, raucous crowd hailed him as “the Son of David” when he arrived. His invasion of the temple and disruption of trade was the last straw. Though it was far from a coup, it rattled their nerves. Now that he had arrived, would he settle in the city? Would he take control of the city?
Jesus explained his action with a cryptic expression, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” It was a riddle, but it sounded like gibberish to enemies and friends. His disciples could only store it away in their memory and try to make sense of it later.
On this third Sunday of Lent we can read this story as part of the drama, the building of tension that will reach a crescendo and climax during Holy Week. But, like many of the greatest dramas of world literature, its deepest meaning evades us. Can anyone fully explain Oedipus Rex, Medea, Hamlet, or King Lear? Can anyone comprehend Jesus’s passion, death, resurrection, and commission of the Church? Where are we in the story; what does it mean for us?
… he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
As his disciples “came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken,” they saw the big picture, the sweep of history from Abraham to David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nehemiah, and John the Baptist.
His resurrection signaled a freshening of the scriptures; it was a beginning like no other. The past was preamble to the coming of the Messiah. Everything they knew of their ancient religion pointed to his birth, death, and resurrection. Everything they knew about themselves made sense only by their belonging to him.
When they remembered, “I shall be your God and you shall be my people!” they knew that Jesus is our God, and we are his risen body, his Real Presence in the world.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.