Third Sunday of Lent/B
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Jn 2:13-25) Jesus, after having driven the money changers and dove sellers out of the Temple in a very determinate manner, has a conversation with the Jews who are, to some extent, scandalised and offended by Jesus’ behaviour.
This conversation takes place on two absolutely different levels of understanding: Jesus foretells his Resurrection and the Jews talk about the years it took to build the Temple. These different levels will remain so by not allowing an encounter and slowly leading Jesus to his death on the cross.
In our relationship with God we may find ourselves in the same situation as the Jews. In fact, the Lord could be waiting for us in precise situations, manifesting his will in particular events, and we might not be able to comprehend, to understand because we live, reason, wait, move, decide in another level, with other interpretative codes where, perhaps, there is no place for God.
True conversion of the heart is that which puts us in the situation of meeting the Lord, of reaching the level where He is waiting for us. This means truly changing life, abandoning our interpretative codes, leaving behind obsolete schemes that, under the illusion of giving us security, imprison us in small horizons that do not tell the truth about us, making those necessary separations that really allow us to take possession of life.
To meet the Lord where He is waiting for us is to leave many useless things behind, it is to put ourselves in the happy situation of beginning to taste “life in abundance”.
The Offertory antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 18 (Ps 18, 9.11.12) with the following text:
“Justitiae Domini rectae, laetificantes corda;
et judicia eius dulciora super mel et favum.
Nam servus tuus custodit ea.”
(The ordinances of the Lord are right, bringing joy to all hearts,
sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.
Therefore your servant will observe them).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The interpretation is by the “Nova Schola Gregoriana” conducted by Alberto Turco. The musical track can be found on the CD “Adorate Deum / Gregorian Chant From the Proper of the Mass” published by Naxos in 1993
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
