March 3, 2024
LINK TO SERMON ON YOUTUBE
(May expire after about 6 months)
TEXT: John 2:13-22
TOPIC: Keeping the Temple Holy
SERMON SUMMARY:
Fr. Jose focuses on the story from the Gospel of John where Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem. He provides helpful context by explaining the layout and significance of the temple, as well as the Jewish requirements around animal sacrifices and money changing during Passover.
Jesus encountered a marketplace scene in the Court of the Gentiles, with merchants selling animals and money changers exchanging coins unsuitable for offerings. Outraged at this disrespect towards his Father's house of prayer, Jesus made a whip, drove everyone out, and overturned the money changers' tables.
However, Fr. Jose highlights that Jesus was referring to more than just the physical temple building when he proclaimed "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Jesus was speaking of his own body as the true temple that would be killed but then resurrected. The beautiful temple structure would eventually be destroyed, but Jesus as the eternal dwelling of God would remain forever.
Fr. Jose draws three applications from this passage:
We must guard the sanctity of the church building, using it only for prayer, worship and God's purposes - not for business or money-making ventures.
Since Jesus is the true eternal temple, he must be Lord over our lives when we take communion and partake of his body and blood symbolically.
We are also temples of the Holy Spirit, so we should treat fellow believers with sanctity, honoring the God who dwells within them.
In driving out the merchants, Jesus revealed himself as the indestructible temple and challenged his followers to maintain holiness in their physical buildings, their communion practices, and their treatment of one another.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION:
PRAYER:
