by Fr. Tommy Lane
It is always better with Jesus than without Jesus. Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers (John 2) but gave a much better table later, the table of the Eucharist. The money changers set up their tables around the temple on the 25th day of the month before Passover and collected the “temple tax” as it is called, until Passover. Outside of Jerusalem, the collection began on the 15th of the month before Passover (m.Seqal. 1:3). That temple tax was to support the running of the temple, including the morning and evening sacrifice of a lamb offered every day in atonement for sin. That offering of a lamb in atonement for sin every morning and evening was among the most important liturgies in the temple. Jesus overturning the tables to collect the money for that daily sacrifice of a lamb means offering that lamb is no longer the way to make atonement to God for sin. There must now be some other way, a much better way, to make atonement for sin. There is. Jesus tells us later in the Gospel passage today when he said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) Jesus’ death on Calvary as the Lamb of God is the one and only sacrifice to God that can atone for our sins and we share spiritually in Jesus’ offering of himself to the Father in atonement for our sins every time we celebrate the Eucharist. The offering of a lamb every morning and evening in atonement for sin was replaced by Jesus offering of himself to the Father. Jesus, Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. The tables of the money changers were replaced by the table of the Eucharist. (See Jacob Neusner, “Money-Changers in the Temple: the Mishnah’s Explanation” New Testament Studies 35 (1989) 290.) It is always better with Jesus than without Jesus.
It is no wonder, then, that not many decades after Jesus’ death on Calvary, the temple was destroyed, and every attempt made to rebuild it failed. The temple was for the Old Covenant only and we are now in the New Covenant. Jesus’ offering of himself to the Father on the cross replaced and fulfilled everything that used to happen in the temple before then, including the sacrifice of all those animals that Jesus drove out of the temple. So, when Jesus overturned the money changers’ tables and the Jewish people wanted him to give a sign to prove he had the authority to do this, he gave the sign of his death and resurrection, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) His resurrection was the proof they needed.
It is better with Jesus than without Jesus. It is better with God than without God. We see that in the first reading which gives us the ten commandments (Exod 20). The commandments hold up for us the good things we can have in life when we live with God. There are no false gods, the name of God is not taken in vain, and one day every week is kept holy for God. Parents and people in authority are honored, the life of others from the womb until natural death is not taken, marital commitments are kept and honored, other people’s belongings are not taken from them, the truth is spoken, and there is no jealousy of other people’s goods or spouses. The commandments offer us a life that is much more blessed than life without them.
Our Psalm today (Ps 19), as always, is a prayerful response to our first reading. Today’s psalm describes the effects that living the commandments have on us:
refreshing the soul .
. .
giving wisdom to the simple. . .
rejoicing the heart . . .
enlightening the eye . . . (Ps 19)
So, in the words of today’s psalm, one who lives the commandments has a refreshed soul, is wise, has a joyful heart and enlightened eyes. Life is better with God than without God because life with God is,
refreshing the soul .
. .
giving wisdom to the simple. . .
rejoicing the heart . . .
enlightening the eye . . . (Ps 19)
During this time of pandemic (2021), perhaps all of us have in one way or another had tables in our lives overturned. When Jesus overturned the money changers’ tables, he gave a much better table: the table of the Eucharist. If a table in your life has been overturned, are you able to allow Jesus more into your life? Life is better with God than without God. It is better with Jesus than without Jesus. Spend time with God and Our Lady in prayer every day. Jesus, the Lamb of God on the cross, has done everything to atone for our sins in a way we could never do. Life is better with God than without God. It is better with Jesus than without Jesus,
refreshing the soul .
. .
giving wisdom to the simple. . .
rejoicing the heart . . .
enlightening the eye . . . (Ps 19)
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2021
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the Third Sunday of Lent Year B
The ten commandments forming our conscience
Related homilies: Gospel: Jesus is the way to the Father 2022
Jesus replaced the temple 2010
First Reading: on the commandments see homilies for 22nd Sunday Year B
stories about the commandments
Scripture Commentary on Jesus’ justified anger