For The Bulletin Of domestic rituals. They could do this most 7 March 2021 conveniently at the temple. Jesus is not unaware of the need for the money exchange, nor so naïve as not to know that petty pilfering and profiteering can be involved in these transactions. Something much more radical is happening: the reclamation of the holy place from marketplace to His Father’s house; from empty, atrophied ritual to living worship. By His “parable in action,” Jesus momentarily terminates the temple worship, reclaims it from chaos and commerce, and cleanses the privileged piece of creation that THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT is His Father’s House of Prayer. No doubt a few hours later, the tables were again in From Father Robert place, animals led back in, coins exchanged We find it easy to admire – even if we do – with plenty to talk about! not imitate – the compassionate Jesus, but an angry Jesus armed with a corded whip, Yet the disturbing Jesus does not disappear driving traders and money-changers out of from the scene; He has more “table turning” the Jerusalem temple and upturning their to do. He stays to answer the criticism of tables, may shock us. This gospel does not His opponents who can see no further than actually use the word “angry,” but Jesus’ the temple built over forty-six years by actions are played out against the backdrop human hands or who refuse to imagine or of the “zeal” of Psalm 69:10, and the tolerate any alternatives to the religious burning passion of the psalmist for God and practices and institutions that they consider the house of God, the Temple, that Mark faultless and unchangeable. In this Jesus places in the mouth of Jesus. This is the stands in the line of the Hebrew prophets zeal that will consume Jesus in the hot noon like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Amos, of Calvary. who angrily and zealously denounced triumphalism and absolutism in worship. The cause of Jesus’ anger is not so much the Jesus, too, will suffer the fate of so many money exchange or animal trading in the prophets before and after Him: rejection, outer court of the temple. Foreign coinage persecution, even death. Jesus dares to that bore pagan or imperial images could not name Himself as the new and living temple be accepted for the half-shekel tax for the in which the divine presence dwells. upkeep of the temple sanctuary, and so it Ultimately, the sanctuary of His body will had to be exchanged for acceptable temple be destroyed in His passion and death, only currency with which to pay this tax and also to be raised again in three days. It is only buy sacrificial animals. John writes that after these events that His disciples will “the Passover of the Jews was near,” and so remember and understand Jesus’ words. those flocking to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast from all over the Roman Empire The contemporary church cannot consider needed to buy the animals required for itself beyond the reach of Jesus’ whip or participating in the temple worship and the 1 overturning hands. When church leaders Today’s psalm reminds us, “The precepts of connive with unjust and tyrannical civil the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” How leaders, when fundraising takes precedence does following God’s law bring joy to your over faith raising, when we refuse to tolerate life? or even imagine alternatives to religious practices and institutions (even when some St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “we of these are obviously in their death throes), proclaim Christ crucified.” How does this when nostalgia for past liturgical practice mystery – that the living God became flesh resists the leading of the Holy Spirit into the and died on a cross – inform your faith? future envisaged by Vatican II, then ecclesial “cleansing” is needed by prophets In the gospel Jesus purifies the temple. How driven by that Spirit of Jesus. And like does our faith community maintain a sacred Jesus, these women and men may often be and holy space for us as the People of God torn down and destroyed – but ultimately to worship? raised up by Him. For us who are living stones in the temple of Christ’s body, Lent is also a time for cleansing the deep personal sanctuary of our heart, for driving out of our lives whatever clutters our discipleship, blocks our ears to the Word of God and the prophets, and distracts us from trading justly and lovingly with the gifts God has given us. About Liturgy: Reverence – “Are You God?” A group of new pre-K students came into a church to visit, to learn their way from one building on campus to another, how to behave reverently in the sanctuary, and so many other things. While waiting for the other classes to arrive, the priest sat down next one of the pre-K children, a little girl. Today’s scripture and homily should She looked up at the priest and quite matter- definitely raise some questions for further of-fact asked, “Are you God?” reflection. These are offered as a beginning to that reflection: There was no particular sense of awe in her vice or on her face; she didn’t seem scared, In the first reading we hear how God “has curious, bewildered, or any other particular blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” adjective. It just seemed like someone, a How do you set apart a day for God in your parent or a teacher probably, had told her week? something like “Church is God’s house,” and, well there was the priest. 2 “Are you God?” Part of that revelation is revealed to us in Jesus, full God and fully human, a sacrifice “No,” he eventually answered, “I’m not of love to the point of death on a cross. God.” Sometimes we consider Jesus as but one of those at the expense of the other, when it is “Well, where is God?” she asked. of course most important that Jesus was and is both divine and human at the same time The priest began to answer, after a and through all time. moment’s thought, with how God is everywhere, in everything God ever The Holy Spirit proceeds, we believe, from created….but then a boy in the class, a Father and Son (some say through the love couple seats down, pointed up to the large that flows between the two) and permeates crucifix and said, “That’s God, up there.” all of creation if we perceive the universe with eyes of faith. Can you see God in At that point, the pre-K teacher walked in. everything, in everyone? …asks a certain “Yes, Jesus is God,” she said, on her way to Jesuit spirituality. So, while I am in fact not attend to another student’s needs, “But we’ll God – and neither are you – how is it that get into that later on.” we approach God and help one another do the same: is it with a childlike faith? How, Jesus is God, and in today’s gospel passage, when, and where are we aware of God, God’s righteous anger fills the temple, present in our midst? Are we aware, as best desecrated by money changers and those as we can be, of the fullness of Who God is, who would unfairly sell animals for in each moment of our lives? sacrificial offerings. God’s temple should be a house of prayer, other gospels tells us; and Jesus, with zealous authority and power, drives out the evildoers. This can be a jarring image of Jesus, when we are more accustomed to images like a watchful shepherd, a prince of peace, or a loving brother. It is helpful at times to Dear Father Robert, approach God the way the young student mentioned above did, without any definition This isn't the first time I've reached out to or limit of Who God actually is. It’s good, you and other members of this community of course, to have a sense of awe and respect to thank you for bringing so much light in and wonder in the presence of the Lord – dark times — and it most certainly won't be and the building itself, the dwelling of the the last. You are at the heart of our mission Most High – but only so much. If we only and a lifeline for the families in the Bay ever see our God as Creator, Universal Area and beyond in need of decent, Ruler, Almighty and Powerful Master – but affordable housing. never as parent, brother, friend, beloved – then we limit Who God is, ignoring much of Today I want to thank you for embodying Who God has revealed to us that God is. three things the world needs most right now: empathy, kindness and community. 3 community and kindness. Let's keep it going as we continue to heal together and look ahead to building a better future. In gratitude and service, Jonathan T.M. Reckford President & CEO Habitat for Humanity International These three pillars have always been at the forefront of Habitat's work. It's been almost a full year since COVID-19 began ravaging our communities, and through it all — we've persevered. We've maintained that steady drumbeat of empathy, kindness and community. Here's just one example of how powerful this community can be and what an empowering force your kindness has been On Saturday, 27 February, our Church these last several months.