Are You Zealous for God's House? - 3rd Sunday in Lent 2021

Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Cor. 1:22-25
John 2:13-25

Don’t take God for granted and don’t treat him casually! That is the message for today, the Third Sunday of Lent. As we move toward the middle of the Lenten Season, today’s readings challenge us to renew our zeal for God and the things of God: his sovereignty, his law, his plan, his house. Today’s readings are like a much-needed wake-up call or splash of cold water on our face. “God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7).

EXODUS

Our first reading is the Exodus account of the giving of the Ten Commandments. Most Catholics, at least older Catholics, would have memorized these from their catechism lessons as children. The first three commands have to do with our relationship with God and the remaining seven concern our relationships with others.

What is striking in this passage is that it is the first three commandments that receive the most detailed explanations. There is an unmistakably strong emphasis on reverence for the Lord God – worship of God alone; respect for the name of the Lord; the command to keep holy the Sabbath (now the Lord’s Day, Sunday).

We live in an era where “casual is king.”  We tend to treat everything and everyone rather casually – even God! We are reminded today that these are Ten Commandments (not Ten Suggestions!), and the first three command us to honor the Lord our God with the reverence and respect due to him and him alone.

The Responsorial, Psalm 19, thanks God for his Commandments, which are “more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold.”

 GOSPEL

The gospel today from John tells of Jesus cleansing the temple. Whereas the other gospels place this incident toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, John recounts it at the beginning. Only in John’s account are we told that Jesus’ disciples recalled the words from Psalm 69:9, “Zeal for your house has consumed me.” Jesus was indeed consumed by zeal for God his Father and for his Father’s house. This takes us back to the First Commandment. Would that we all had such a holy zeal for God and the things of God!

Also, it is only John’s gospel that relates the exchange of Jesus with the Jews: “What sign can you show us for doing this?” And Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Here, of course, Jesus was speaking prophetically of his death and resurrection.

 FIRST CORINTHIANS

The second reading needs little commentary. Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God. And the foolishness is God is wiser than men and God’s weakness is stronger than men. The plan of God to save the human race by the death of Jesus on the cross, then raising him to life on high, has turned human wisdom upside down. Let us be zealous for the wisdom of God. Let us always prefer Christ crucified to this world’s wisdom – which is only foolishness to God!

As we draw ever closer to celebrating the life-giving death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, our prayer today is for true wisdom and power from God. We ask that we might be as zealous for God’s house as Jesus was. May we never fall into the trap of trifling with the Holy God! God is the Creator of everyone and everything. May we be zealous to give him the honor, glory, reverence and respect due to him alone. May the Holy Spirit accomplish this in us.