HOMILY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: CLEANSING OF OUR HEART, THE TEMPLE
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
(Jn. 2:13-25) Third Sunday of Lent (Day 19 of Lent)
In the day’s Gospel, the Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus is angry. He is angry at those who disrespect the temple by doing immoral businesses in the temple area. Money changers take advantage of foreigners who went to the area to worship. Even those selling doves for offering were selling overpriced fowls. Jesus could not withstand what they were doing in a place where God is supposed to be encountered. He showed His humanity and His and concern by making a whip and using it in driving out everyone who was guilty.
The temple or the church is a place of worship. It is where we can meet God. God makes His presence felt in those places. Irreverence has no place in it. While we believe God is everywhere, there are still places designated to pray and meet God. Specially in our faith, we believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus in the mass. That is why we genuflect, vow, or make a gesture of respect when we enter a church or pass by the tabernacle.
But the cleansing of the temple maybe seen as cleansing ourselves of our sins. The human body is also the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our human body must be treated with respect and should maintain holiness. In the light of Lent, conversion is the message of Jesus. We should not expose our bodies to sins thus making them unholy. The Spirit dwells in us. We must recognise that presence. More importantly, we must respect it by not allowing sin to taint a holy heart.
