Breaking the Word

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Wednesday – 09^th November 2022 — Gospel: Jn 2,13-22

Revolutionary Jesus

The temple narrative in John consists of two parts: Jesus’ actions in the Temple and Jesus’ foretelling about the destruction of the Temple. Jesus’ revolutionary actions reveal to us a very different person of Jesus. Why did Jesus, who was so merciful and compassionate, turned violent in the temple? For the Israelites, the Jerusalem temple symbolized the center of the cosmos, the meeting place between heaven and earth. It is the center to which distant communities would send delegations to offer worship. It was also a potent symbol of God’s victory over His enemies. It was referred to as the ‘House of God or Lord’. The temple was also a symbol of holiness, set apart for spiritual and holy sacrifices. Jesus, being the Son of God, could rightly call this temple, “My Father’s House”.  When Jesus saw his Father’s house being defiled, he could no longer tolerate it and he moved into action.

32^nd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 08^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 17,7-10

Useless Servants

Are you offended with Jesus for his ungrateful remarks and calling the servant worthless? One might find these words of Jesus quite shocking. Jesus, who is the personification of compassionate Father, doesn’t seem to express his concern for the marginalized slave in this parable. The world of a servant centers not around himself but on the master. This passage does not deal with the master-servant power struggle but focusses on our relationship with God. At the time of Jesus, a servant did not enjoy the rights of a citizen. A servant had to do what pleased his master regardless of any gratitude. It was the duty of the servant to serve the master without any expectation. Jesus is driving the point home that God, who is the Master of us all, can also expect more from us. In this relationship, we need to be aware of our worthlessness in the eyes of God. And we also need to become aware that it is He who makes us able and worthy to serve him.