Temples of the Holy Spirit

The Temple in Jerusalem was the heart and center of Jewish religion. This was the only place where sacrifices were offered. The Synagogue was the place for weekly worship, but not a place of sacrifice. The first Temple was built by King Solomon in 966 B.C. A few hundred years later (379 B.C.) the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the Jewish people taken into slavery. After 59 years on their return from exile, the Temple was rebuilt. It was renovated by King Herod in the year 20 B.C. Jesus chased the money changers from part of the Temple called the court of the Gentiles. The selling and buying taking place made it like a marketplace. The Gentiles who came from afar to see the Temple and worship God couldn’t do that in this kind of environment – Jesus was angry at the abuse of the holy place for material gain. By chasing the racketeers from the Temple, Jesus disrupted the Temple system of worship for that day. There could be no sacrifices, tithes, offerings of any kind. The people responsible for the ongoing life and activities in the Temple were the Sadducees. They, too, were angry! By what authority, in whose name, or for what purpose did he disrupt the proceedings at this sacred place! Jesus’ response: “Destroy this Temple life.” [John 14:5-6]

The Temple was such a special place for the Jewish people, that life without the Temple would be unbearable. The Temple represented God’s love and care for his people. The Temple housed the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. The Temple was a sign that God, who liberated and saved them again and again, was in their midst. The Holy City of Jews and Christians was a place where all Jews went to visit each year on the Feast of the Passover. There they celebrated the liberating power of God. Now that power was to change. In Jesus, God was reconciling the world to himself… while the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus was a source of scandal to the Jews. So also the words of Jesus – about destroying the Temple of His Body - were unthinkable for the Jewish people. A suffering Messiah had no place in their thoughts. Saint Paul expresses this reality in these words: “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” [1 Corinthians 1:23-24]

For Saint Paul, the dying and rising of Jesus signified the wisdom and love of God. The death and resurrection of Jesus calls Christians to die to sin and selfishness, and live the life of those who have been raised up in the union with Christ.

On this Sunday we are reminded of the Temples that are part of our lives. We have the temple of God’s creation – the earth. We are called to love, respect and treasure the “beauty of the earth”, and to protect it. Then we have the parish church, which is the place where we worship as part of the fulfilling of our obligation in keeping holy the “Lord’s Day.” This Temple reminds us of God’s love and presence in our midst. It’s our place of worship and prayer. Here we find strength and support to live the Gospel. Let us look around and treasure our parish church. Today the Church reminds us that our bodies are the “Temples of the Holy Spirit.” [1 Corinthians 6:19] We have no right to desecrate them by our sins. During Lent, we are called to cleanse and purify these Temples by prayer, fasting, almsgiving and by repenting of our sins by a good confession.

Let us rejoice in the many temples where we find God. Let us rejoice and treasure the places where God reveals himself to us!