Ex 20.1-7; Ps 18 (19); 1Cor 1.22-25; Jn 2: 13-25

The cross, the power and wisdom of God for those who are called, in addition to offering us the revelation of the face of God, calls us to set up our relationship with him in a different way. The Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom: to ask, to seek, are not verbs that are negative in themselves, they become negative when they express the claim to conquer for themselves, by virtue of their own wisdom or signs tailored to their expectations, the knowledge of God. Paul overturns this attitude, speaking of a power and wisdom that are manifested for those who “are called”, and therefore make themselves docile to accept the way in which God reveals himself to them and leads them to meet him. We find the same reversal in John. The gesture that Jesus performs in the temple, rather than purifying this sacred place, purifies our relationship with God. The temple is not a market, because God is not a merchant, but a Father, and we are called to weave a relationship with him. no longer servile, but filial. Sheep and oxen are chased away because now sacrifices are no longer needed to bargain the favors of God, it is rather necessary to live like Jesus the trust in a God who is Father and returns to give full life to his children, calling them to live not in a market, but in the “house of the Father”. Then the way of understanding the commandments changes: they are the great instruction for continuing to walk in the freedom of the children of God.

Commentary by Comunità di Dumenza

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey