The Third Sunday of Lent

The Purification of the Temple by El Greco
c. 1600, oil on canvas

Today's Mass readings may vary, depending on whether your parish has catechumens preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. If so, you may be hearing the Year A readings today, which are the proper readings to be used at Masses where the scrutinies are being celebrated. If there are no catechumens preparing for Baptism, then you will hear regular the Year B readings proclaimed at Mass today. These are the readings I'll comment briefly upon now.

In the first reading, we continue the ongoing Lenten theme of covenant. Today we hear the story of God's gift to Moses of the Law of the Covenant -- known to us as the 10 Commandments. Far from being burdensome restrictions, these commandments were (and still are!) meant to bring human beings into right relationship with God and with each other. Today's psalm is a lovely meditation on the Law, praising its sweetness and preciousness.

The Gospel reading is taken from John, as many of the Lent and Easter season readings are, regardless of which year it is in the lectionary cycle. Today we hear John's account of Jesus cleansing of the Temple. It is important to note that, while the synoptics all place this event near the end of Jesus' life, upon his final entry into Jerusalem, John places it near the beginning. For Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this event serves as one of the final straws in Jesus' ongoing confrontation with the scribes and the Pharisees. But John places it right at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, in chapter 2 of his Gospel, immediately following Jesus' first public miracle at Cana. Why? Well, as always, the ordering of events in the Gospels is often more concerned with the theological truth of who Jesus is rather than with conveying a strict historical chronology of the sequence of events as they happened.

For John, it seems that this event is symbolic of Jesus' overall mission. Something is drastically wrong with the human heart and in the relationship between people and God. Jesus has come to set things right. He is, in fact, consumed with zeal for this mission. He himself knows where it will lead, as he predicts in the reading his passion, death, and resurrection. John's Gospel shows us a Jesus who is always in control of events, a Jesus who does not have his life taken from him but who lays it down willingly out of love and zeal for humanity.

What is wrong in my heart? What needs to be cleansed and driven out of that "temple" in order to give God his rightful place there? Talk it over with Jesus in prayer and ask for his help in driving out whatever you need to during this Lenten season.

I also want to point out some of the prayers in today's liturgy, which are lovely. The opening prayer, or Collect, is perfect for the beginning of this Third Week of Lent:

Father,
you have taught us to overcome our sins
by prayer, fasting and works of mercy.
When we are discouraged by our weakness,
give us confidence in your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We all start Lent with such good intentions of the spiritual program we're going to undertake during the season, but it doesn't take long before we start to fall short. It's now the start of the third week, and many of us may be getting discouraged by our own failures in this regard. Today's opening prayer reminds us that our focus, as always, should be on God's love and mercy rather than on ourselves. The trust must be in Him, not in ourselves.

Both the prayer over the gifts and the prayer after communion remind us the importance of forgiveness during this Lenten season -- and of the fact that our forgiveness towards others is tied to the forgiveness we seek from God.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord,
by the grace of this sacrifice
may we who ask forgiveness
be ready to forgive one another.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Prayer after Communion:
Lord,
in sharing this sacrament
may we receive your forgiveness
and be brought together in unity and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today's final solemn blessing strengthens us and sends us forth to to carry out our mission of unselfish love and service in the world. Just in case your priest opts not to use it, here it is:

The Father of mercies has given us an example of unselfish love
in the sufferings of his only Son.
Through your service of God and neighbor
may you receive his countless blessings. Amen.

You believe that by his dying
Christ destroyed death for ever.
May he give you everlasting life. Amen.

He humbled himself for our sakes.
May you follow his example
and share in his resurrection. Amen.


Amen indeed. A blessed Third Sunday of Lent to you all.