A Loving and Obedient Relationship With God brings Peace

03-07-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp

In today’s first reading we are called to a complete obedience and respect for God’s commandment if we are to maintain a good relationship with God and with one another. God’s commandment is designed for our good and when we obey it for what it is, it gives meaning to our lives as the only way we can demonstrate our love for God and to keep His commandments. Thus, Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel. “If you love me keep my commandment” Jn 14:15.

Today’s Gospel describes the encounter between Jesus and the temple officials within the court yard of the temple as the Passover of the Jews draws near. The area may be what we call today the Narthex the space between the main Church and outside of the church building. The Passover is the greatest of all the Jewish feasts. Everyone flocks to Jerusalem to celebrate this great feast because of it’s significance in the lives of the Jews. Thus, part of the celebration would require certain sacrifices that would be made in the temple. Those who come for the feast would need to buy the required animal for the participation in the temple worship. Many need to change their foreign currency to local currency to be able to purchase the animal needed for the sacrifice. This created an occasion of exploitation of these pilgrims and leaving the essence of the main sacrifice. The law says that every adult male Jew who lives within fifteen miles of Jerusalem was bound to attend it. It was not only the Jews in Palestine who came to the Passover but Jews all over the world as it was the dream of every Jew, no matter the land he stays to celebrate at least one Passover in Jerusalem.

This desire to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem coupled with the all the required taxes every male of a certain age is meant to pay turned the temple court into a place of exploitation instead of a place of worship. Moreover, this exploitation is happening in the house of God against those who have come to worship God with pure heart and mind. These acts of wickedness in the hearts of temple religious officials was what moved Jesus to kick them out of the temple.

Jesus comes to purify the temple to restore it as a place designated primarily for true worship and sacrifice to God. By His action He identifies Himself as the new and living temple in which the divine presence dwells. As members of Christ body we need to constantly purify ourselves of anything that obstructs us from listening to the word of God and obeying His commandment. As can be seen, these actions brought lack of reverence to the temple that is meant to be a Holy and Sacred place. Worship without reverence can be terrible as it becomes a worship which does not recognize the holiness of God. That lead Prophet Isaiah to say, “This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” Isaiah 29:13.

This is an invitation to examine ourselves and how we revere the places of worship in our individual lives especially when we enter the church. It equally calls for an evaluation on the Church authority if fundraising for some projects has taken over the true worship of God in our Churches and celebration. The example of Jesus in today’s Gospel calls for a rethink of how we revere places of worship, by our actions and dressing in the Church. As we journey in this lent let us equally draw closer to God by a life of repentance, purification and prayer by listening to God’s word.