Third Sunday of Lent

March 11, 2012

INTRODUCTION – (Exodus 20: 1-17; 1 Cor. 1:22-25; John 2:13-25) Covenant is a theme that keeps recurring in our first reading these Sundays of Lent. The first Sunday of Lent we hear about God’s covenant with Noah. Last Sunday we heard about God’s covenant with Abraham and how Abraham’s trust in God was tested when he heard God tell him to sacrifice his son. Today, the third Sunday of Lent, we hear about God’s covenant with his people as they traveled under the leadership of Moses from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. Typically a covenant had two parts, what each party to the covenant promised they would do for one another. God, for his part of the covenant, had promised his people liberty, land, prosperity and his special care and love. Today’s first reading tells us what God expected of his people in return for the blessings he promised them.

HOMILY – All four gospels tell us about Jesus cleansing the Temple. John’s account of the cleansing of the Temple is at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, whereas in the other three gospels it occurred shortly before Jesus was put to death. While scholars do not dispute its historicity, they argue about whether it occurred at the beginning or the end of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ zeal for God’s house moved him so deeply that he challenged the Temple authorities in the dramatic way we just heard. The money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice were offering a legitimate service to those who came to offer sacrifice to God, but those changing money from Greek coins to approved Temple currency and those selling the animals for sacrifice obviously took advantage of the people who came to worship. Jesus said that they had made the Temple into a den of thieves. Josephus, the Jewish historian, is quoted as saying that the High Priest, who no doubt benefitted from all these dealings, was “the great procurer of money.”

Some scholars see this event more as a sign that the Temple would be destroyed rather than as a cleansing or reform of the Temple practice. The story of this Temple is tragic. It had been under construction for 46 years and it would be roughly another 40 years before it was completed. Then just about 4 or 5 years after completion the Romans destroyed it in the Jewish revolt. Jesus did predict the destruction of the Temple and, even in today’s reading, he talks about it being destroyed but he would raise it up in three days. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that his Apostles understood what he was telling them. It was a way for him to say he would replace the Temple and that his sacrifice, because his sacrifice would be a perfect sacrifice, would replace all other sacrifices. We are privileged to be part of that perfect sacrifice of Jesus every time we come to Mass. Religion has a legitimate need for money. There are buildings to be maintained. There are those dedicated to the service of God who need to have food and clothing and a place to live. The poor need to be helped. Jesus paid the Temple tax. He encouraged people to help the poor. He respected the Temple. Religious people who support the work of religion do not need to be gouged or cheated or taken advantage of. Apparently that’s what the Temple authorities were doing and Jesus set them straight.

I know that most of you received a letter from the Archbishop this week asking your help with many of the ministries that take place in our Archdiocese. I hope you read the letter and gave it serious consideration. We have many special collections throughout the year, but this is the really big one (the Catholic Ministries Appeal). You’ve heard me talk about finances a number of times recently. I don’t want you to think I’m doing it because I enjoy it. I would much rather talk about Jesus, but it’s my job to occasionally address such practical matters. I want you to know that if I encourage your support of some project, I myself put my money where my mouth is. I don’t just talk about it; I support it too. To be brief, I want to mention just three of the major efforts that the Catholic Ministries Appeal supports: 1) the education of priests, deacons and lay pastoral ministers at the Athenaeum, and if we get more vocations which the Archbishop is trying to do, support for the Athenaeum will be greatly needed; I received my education at the Athenaeum, so did Deacon Ted and Deacon Jerry, so did our parishioners who went through the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program and who serve or have served our parish so professionally. 2) the collection helps Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services which provides many services such as counseling, and it offers a number of basic needs to the poor, and 3) it supports retired diocesan priests. We have no pension. This collection for the Catholic Ministries Appeal takes the place of a pension. This collection helps support priests like Fr. Stricker, Fr. Lammeier and about 75 other priests. The demand in this area keeps increasing because priests, like the rest of society, are living longer. I guess if after I retire (if I ever do) and I have to go dumpster diving for my dinner, I didn’t do a very good job with my talk on the Catholic Ministries Appeal.

Just those few areas of need I have mentioned take 80 percent of your donation. The other 20 percent will go for chaplains for hospitals and prisons, and St. Rita’s School for the Deaf. Nothing is used for Archdiocesan administration. All these worthwhile causes are ministries that are beyond the capability of any single parish, or any group of parishes, to maintain. All parishes need to do their share for the good of the diocese. We will need a few heavy hitters to meet our goal which sets the bar higher than last year. I am proud of St. Boniface. Our parish has met our goal every year for the past 20 years that I’ve been here. So I am very hopeful we will do it again. Our parish goal is $17,855. The goal is set for each parish based on that parish’s Sunday collection. Our collections are better, so our goal is higher. I am going to suggest that if everyone who could afford it, would pledge or donate $100, even if you gave it over a 10 month period, we would make our goal. As I said, we will need a few significant donations to compensate for those who can’t donate very much. I hope everyone will pledge or give something, even if it’s $5 or $10. In Archbishop Schnurr’s letter, there is a pledge card and donation envelope with it. You may send it in to the Archdiocese or to St. Boniface or save yourself 44 cents and bring it with you to church and put it in the collection basket. These many services in our Archdiocese and to the poor in our neighborhoods deserve whatever support we can give. Thank you for your patient listening.