from Deacon Steve Udelhofen

Here are this Sunday’s readings

Observations about John 2:13-25

We wonder in today’s world why would there be people selling animals in the temple? Why would there be money changers in a church? We agree that, of course, Jesus would be angry with these things. However, it’s more complicated than that.

Jesus’ anger is not just that money changed hands and animals were sold for sacrifice in the Temple. It goes quite a bit deeper. Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim feasts (Passover, Shavuot/Pentecost, & Succoth/Tabernacles).

Most visitors were poor and did not or could not bring sacrificial animals on their journey. They would need to purchase animals at the temple. The merchants selling the sacrificial animals would sell the “approved” animals at very high prices. Sometimes the animals a pilgrim had managed to bring with them would be declared unfit, which would force them to purchase the “approved”, more expensive animal. It was also Jewish law not to accept coins inscribed with other gods or emperors, so the money changers would exchange foreign coins from visitors with an exorbitant exchange fee.

Jewish historian Josephus estimated that 3 million people, on average, attended Passover in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time on earth. A conservative estimate, figuring 12 people per family, would have it so 250,000 lambs were sacrificed during Passover each year. That would have been big business, especially taking advantage of the poor and foreign pilgrims.

The hucksters and money-changers were profiting from people’s piety. Profit and love of money had taken over from prayer and faithfulness.

Jesus knew taking a stand and casting out the unlawful commerce in the Temple would bring about retribution. He stood up for the truth about God and religion and for the poor.

Quiet reflection on this Gospel this week can give us new insight into how Jesus lived his life, always with the knowledge of his death and mission for this time on earth. This Gospel reminds us that Jesus was always there for others, especially the poor. It underscores for us that Jesus had little tolerance for injustice or exploitation of the poor and vulnerable.

Prayer intention: Remember all those who suffer and are endangered in their commitment to justice. Amen.