November 4, 2010. Homily, November 9, 2010.

John 2:13-22.

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.

Scourging the Temple had messianic overtones. Malachi had foretold the coming of the Messiah in terms of God sending his messenger who would suddenly enter the Temple and purify the sons of Levi, the priests, so that acceptable offering could be made. The Temple officials recognized at once the significance of Jesus' actions and immediately challenged his authority by asking for a sign. The Jews regarded the Temple itself as a sign of God's presence, so Jesus used allegory to indicate that he himself is the sign. Allegory is a form of speech that uses imagery to communicate on more than one level. But Jesus [destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up] was speaking not of the massive 46-year-in-the-building stone structure but of his body. And the sign of his authority from God which he alludes to will be his resurrection from the dead. which was God's ultimate seal of approval.