Gospel 3rd Sunday of Lent John 2:13-25 
Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple, he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon- sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market. Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done? Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’
The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said. During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man had in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
GUIDELINES
‘He drove them all out of the Temple.’
John paints a very dramatic scene of Jesus being motivated by great anger at what was happening in the Temple. He wanted to restore the sacred space and challenge those who were exploiting the poor and the vulnerable.
Take a few minutes to reflect on people today who are working to safeguard the rights and dignity of all. We want our Church, community groups, sporting bodies, schools, etc to be safe and protected spaces for everyone to grow and develop in the knowledge that they are valued and loved.
Let the passage remind you of a time when you were consumed by a task and you put your heart and soul into it; preparing for the arrival of new baby, a family wedding, a special occasion. We pray that we can experience the same fervour this Lent to deepen our relationship with God.
Lord Jesus help us to grow, renew and rebuild our faith through our Lenten Observances.