This reflection explores Jesus’s cleansing of the temple during Passover, emphasizing its symbolic significance and connection to the sanctity of the human body. We will also look at the parallel concepts of the temple and body in various religious traditions and Jesus’s caution regarding those who seek miracles. Ultimately, it calls us to deepen our faith beyond seeking wonders and embrace the values of love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy inherent in the Kingdom of God.
Why is it that on the second Sunday of Lent, the Church wants us to reflect on the transfiguration of Jesus? What happened on the top of that mountain was to strengthen the faith of the disciples who were about to face the scandalous death of their master on the cross. Like the three disciples, we also have to descend from that mountain, face our challenges and trials, and be transformed by God’s unfathomable love.
His last temptation was to take revenge! Jesus could have made a claim on the cross to the soldiers and his persecutors, “I will teach you all a lesson when in three days I rise again.” Most stories of our days end in such successful vengeances! He prevailed over anger and vengeance in that last temptation too. He is the ultimate winner!
Reflect, today, upon this leper. Try to understand his isolation and loss. Try to understand his humility and faith. And seek to imitate the way that he comes to our Lord. Do not be afraid to humble yourself before God as you acknowledge the sins and other needs you have….He will not let you down.
Jesus begins a journey, breaching that early attempt at domesticating his spirit to the frames of the expectation of the people, to the ends of the world. He continues, traversing times, caring, healing, and transforming the mindset of people, even today.
Everything depends on pure and free hearts. Therefore, the fight against evil must first be waged within us, in our hearts. There lies the origin of pride and wars. It is there where the deception of the evil one wreaks havoc.
Jesus casts out the evil from the person, not the person himself. We need Christian ways of dealing with members of our community, to expel the evil but welcome the person. Saving the person who is in sin while denouncing the evil is possible only with great love.
The Gospel narrates Jesus calling disciples to join him in a new mission. Despite successes and failures, including betrayals and denials, Jesus consistently trusts and gently guides them. The disciples experience both joy and disappointment in their journey, yet Jesus doesn’t replace them. Instead, he believes in their potential for growth and contribution to his Kingdom.
The question of Andrew and his companion is: where do you live (stay / abide)? It is a courtesy question in a first meeting. Jesus does not answer this directly, instead offers an invitation to go and see the place he lives.
This little family becomes the heart of humanity and had to be saved from the wrath of human kings, because the new-born boy is announced as the king of the universe.