Each and every rule has some specific goal. If this goal is not achieved then we call it by Corruption or deviation.
From the readings of this Sunday, we understand that God has a clear goal regarding our life.
The Gospel of John presents an unusual Jesus, who is angry, using some kind of "force".
Jesus knew that there will be much great "business" in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. For the pilgrims who had to travel a long way, it was easier to get their offerings and to exchange their coins in Jerusalem.
Jesus is not against these facilities.
His anger is against the basic attitude - that God's house was degraded in to a market place; that religion and business move so close together that the one is hardly distinguishable from the other.
Temple is for Jesus a place much more than of rituals or an astonishing work.
It has some goal and purpose;
God should be experienced in this temple.
Worship is the main act that must happen there.
Unfortunately, the businesses grow there and it prevents people from this essential goal.
Jesus feels some danger here.
Therefore he cries, "Stop making my Father's house a marketplace"...
In the first reading we hear a lot of prohibitions.
"You shall not carve Idols"...
"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain..."
"No work may be done on the Sabbath" ...
and then comes a series of "do-nots" ...
These Ten Commandments shape the human rights and our constitutions.
Even the Constitution of the United Nations is based on these Ten Commandments.
These are ten "words" accompanying the whole human race;
They open up the sphere of living together.
Still, many people think that religion is a place of prohibition, demands and impositions which chains the human freedom.
Especially now in the Lenten season we experience some more Taboo...
All these "no" can turn to be, encouraging,
if one develops a suiting picture of loving God;
if one can develop a human approach to his fellow men;
when one can enjoy the nature and all living things.
Yes, that's the goal of these commandments.
They can guide us to life and peace that is provided by God.
These commands always remind us about our goal and our vocation.
Jesus raises his voice again and again if we forget this goal.
His word - the Gospel - is the "whip" ...
If we are away from the target, then we are no longer in the temple of God
but in a marketplace. And then it is time to clean up all that distract us from the goal - from the real worship.
Lenten Season is just the time that reminds us of our goal,
which calls us to peace with God and man.
It gives us strength to return to our original call and commitments.
Let us pray for it. God bless us all. Amen!
- Fr Thomas Kalathil
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