3rd Sunday of Lent (08.03.15)
Today’s scripture readings give us much food for thought.
The portrait of Jesus in this Gospel is a world away from the storybook caricature of the meek and mild figure –seemingly weak and harmless. Neither is it meant to be a model of aggressive violence, supporting annihilation for selfish gains.
A word about “aggression”: It comes from the Latin root aggredi, which means “to go forward, to approach, to move against”. Constructive aggression means taking the initiative to support what is important. It means working in a hostile environment against the power that devalues our beliefs.
Jesus’ aggression was at the service of his Father’s house for the advancement of the kingdom of God.
“My house is a house of prayer”. It is up to us to make this house truly a house of prayer. We come here each Sunday to pray, not just individually, but collectively as members of one family- the family of the followers of Jesus.
Perhaps we could also learn from this episode to be more courageous in speaking out for our Christian beliefs, and when the opportunity arises, to bravely confront the powers that devalue them; because in drawing back, we continue to allow “the traders to occupy the Temple”!
Then, in the first reading from the book of Exodus we hear how God gave the rule of life to his followers through Moses in the ten commandments. Sometimes we might regard them merely as a list of “do’s and don’t s” – to keep us from offending our Lord and Father. It might be helpful to delve a little deeper into each one to find a kinder and more positive approach!
1. I am the Lord, your God: I am your friend, guide and counsellor. All idols will eventually betray you. Money is the most common of all idols.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain: Call me ”Father “. Pronounce it in love not in fear. Invoke it in praise, thanks and intercession. Your names are written on the palm of my hand.
3. Keep holy the Sabbath day: All days belong to the Lord, but let Sunday be set apart to show that God has first place in your life. Assemble in prayer and worship -signifying that you are a people on pilgrimage to the Promised Land
4. Honour thy father and thy mother: Love them. Take care of them when they get old and feeble, but not to the exclusion of others, remembering that all who listen to the word of God and try to live by it are also members of that wider family of God.
5. Thou shalt not kill: Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge and you will not be judged.
Do not limit your love to your friends only. Love your enemies too. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who speak evil against you.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery: Love your marriage partner as you would yourself. Aim at fidelity of heart and soul. If there is no love, then even with physical fidelity, marriage is like s fireplace without a fire.
7. Thou shalt not steal: There are various ways of stealing besides the obvious one. Hoarding up goods you do not need while another is in want is a form of stealing. Give to everyone who asks; share your bread with the hungry; clothe the naked; open your doors to the homeless and the lonely, and God’s light will shine upon you.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness: Aim at seeing the good in your neighbour. Let your words be affirming, encouraging, comforting, supportive, thus being a light rather than a source of darkness. In conversation, try to accentuate the positive, and if you cannot find anything good to say, then remain silent.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife: Adultery can be committed in thought and desire as well as in deed. All our thoughts, words and deeds stem from what is in the heart, like water from a hidden spring. Try to keep your heart pure and unpolluted by evil, and then you can see God in all that is good, beautiful and desirable in the world.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods: Do not covet any goods at all, nor lay up treasure here on earth. If you covet anything of your neighbour’s let it be “kindness of heart and gentleness of manner”.
In conclusion: Do not obey any of these commandments out of fear, but out of love; and if you find ten too many to
remember, then reduce them to two: