Article Tools
- Text Size
- Add a comment (9)
- Print this article
- Email this article
Build up others this Lent with your thoughts on the Sunday Mass readings and meditation. Three questions for reflection and discussion will be offered for each of the six Sundays during Lent. Please pray through the questions and share your insights or what the Lord spoke to you in the comments area below. Your words will inspire others in The Word Among Us community and encourage them during this grace-filled season.
Meditation & Questions on John 2:13-25
If you remember just one thing from today’s Gospel, remember this: You are God’s temple, so take care of it. Just as Jesus cleared the Temple of all corrupting influences, so too does he want to cleanse us. Just as he was zealous for his Father’s house, so too is he zealous for each of us—for we are all temples of his Holy Spirit.
But let’s put this story in perspective. Remember how encouraging and supportive Jesus is throughout the Gospels. Remember how much he loves you. Know, too, that he intercedes for you every day. Jesus is zealous for us in his passionate love, and there are times when his passion is directed against the sin in us—and that’s where we get the phrase the “wrath of God.”
Jesus wants us to be clear: We mar this beautiful temple of our lives when we allow sin to overtake us. Whenever sin rules us in this way, our temple gets a little more darkened, and that upsets Jesus. Of course, his anger is against our sinful behavior, not against our hearts. But it is a passionate anger, and it’s something none of us ever wants to experience.
So let’s choose never to cause the Lord to be angry with us. Let’s make sure that Jesus is first in our lives. Let’s make sure that we do not let any sin enter our lives and defile our “temple.” When we fail, let’s have the courage and the humility to repent and be reconciled with the Lord. In short, let’s do everything we can to make the temple of our hearts as pure and holy as possible.
Let’s also pray for the courage to evangelize. There are many people in the world who are corrupting their own temples. It’s up to us to reach out to them—beginning with our families and friends—helping them to get right with God so that they can experience the passion of his love and not his wrath.
“Lord, let zeal for your house consume me. Send me out into the world with the message of your passionate, all-encompassing love.”
Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8-11; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Discusson Questions
1. Imagine yourself as a temple of the Holy Spirit, a clean and beautiful place where Jesus is always welcome. How might this image help you guard against sin? How might it give you courage to repent and reconcile with God?
2. Have you ever felt the same passion against sin that Jesus exhibited in this passage? How might such passion motivate you to action—to turn against sin in your own life or to work against social injustices like poverty, abortion, or racism?
3. How might you explain in a gentle and loving way the concept of sin to someone who is not a believer? What examples could you share from your own life to show that God intended us not to act in certain ways because that’s not what’s best for us or for our happiness?
I long very much to be close to God, however, I find that I am “tormented” by lots of temptations of the modern world - where the people around me, even my loved ones, put more emphasis on worldly things like career, social life, money, fun, fitness, looking good, etc. It’s easier said than done - bring God to those around us, I find it so tough because most of the people around me are very secular - for example - you go to a pub - it’s crowded, whereas when you go for mass at the cathedral on sunday - you can count with your fingers the number of people attending mass… I don’t mean to be a sourpuss but yes, I do love the fact that I am called to be a witness of God’s love but on the other hand, I feel helpless and very alone in this mission.
You are not alone at all - by setting a good example you are already a disciple and a witness to God’s love. The career, social life, money, fun, etc are just the ‘flesh’. The ‘temple’ in today’s gospel and attaining purity is keeping the faith. That faith will shine through even in a secular world. I will pray for you.
I am currently going through RCIA but have been truely a Christian for about 4 years now. I agree that sometimes the best way to witness is to just live your faith. It is hard to not cuss or gossip at work. Try to have a positive attitude and publicly bow your head and pray at lunch. But after awhile it becomes part of who you are. Now I can talk about my conversion and guess what? People are starting to ask questions about the bible, where are certain scriptures found, what am I learning and why am I converting. Doesn’t the Catholic Church teach so and so (no, it doesn’t) and so on. Just trust in the Lord and keep doing what you believe He is calling you to do. Plant the seed and let God make it grow! We are just fishermen, we throw out the bait. Jesus is the catcher.
With regards to the second question, I do feel for social injustices, but at the same time as a student in the medical field, feel afraid to speak out. It may be as simple as passionately standing up for what I believe is best for my patient and expressing that to my superiors. That, I believe is love, but my fear is in going that route, I may make some enemies, and be in a lonely place like Jesus was often time. My heart knows that the way of the cross is the heart of bliss and freedom too, but I am always apprehensive to make that leap through my actions. Anyone can relate to me?
It’s important for Christians to band together so that we aren’t alone. Find others who believe as you do--maybe through a bible study or a parish group. That can make the world of difference.
Thank you, gladioli. Let’s all pray for one another that we do not lose hope in this world, in spreading God’s word even when the big odds are against us. I do feel very alone - as a Catholic. I don’t evangelize so much as when I was a youth, partly because I find I have so much internal reformation to deal with first, finding myself and God. I am just so confused sometimes. Struggling with the stresses of life.
Hello desarulanandam. Yes, I can relate to what you’re saying. By coincidence, I come from a paramedical background and many a time I have spoken up ‘against’ the authorities so to speak, in defence of a patient. I used to feel lke you, but being older and wiser now, and knowing for sure that small voice in my head is urging me to do the right thing - if we become unpopular because of our actions, so be it. Christ was in the wilderness for 40 days/nights. The Jews have been persecuted for more than 40 years and now we recently heard that the Dalai Lama has been in exile for 50 years. Our alone-ness and the few ‘enemies’ that we make is nothing compared to what Christ has endured. All the best in your medical studies and may you shine in Christ’s light.
Hello pinkth - nice to see you back. I used to be very active, too, in parish activites but due to work commitments, I am now a dormant parishoner. This blog itself is evangelization and you’re part of it - we are banding together as seeker01 said and praying for each other. I am sure your internal reformation will eventually evaporate. Smile!
pinkth, I too struggled with life and its stresses. As you said, trying to find yourself. It finally came to me that if I tried to find God first, it would be easier to then find myself. Jesus said to seek and you would find, to ask and it would be answered. Keep seeking. Keep asking. Pray like there’s no tomorrow. There might not be.
Amen, Seawood. You’re right to say we should pray like there’s no tomorrow, I will pray for all of the people who commented on this article--it is tough to follow Christ in the world, but we must do it, and we must witness to Him. God bless you all!