Cleansing of the Temple [March 11, 2012]

The Sunday Gospel [March 11, 2012]

John 2: 13-25

13Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.15He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables,16and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. 23While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. 24But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, 25and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Reflection

“He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple area.” V. 15

Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was angry. But just a little more than a week ago, we read how Jesus told us not to get angry. So, did Jesus commit a sin here? Did he lose his temper? Or is there a place for anger?

Maybe St. Paul can help here. “Be angry,” he wrote, “but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). So there is a type of anger that isn’t sinful. In fact, there are times when anger is the only appropriate response. For instance, we have the right to be angry at sins like abortion, racism, sexual abuse, or child trafficking. But at the same time, And no matter how offensive these sins are, we are not justified in sinning ourselves. It comes down to our motivations. As St. Thomas Aquinas taught: “He who is not angry when there is a just cause for anger is immoral.”  Why? Because “anger looks to the good of Justice.”

So anger toward injustice is not sinful; it’s even appropriate! It simply needs to be controlled by reason and compassion. Expressions of anger are acceptable if they arise from a desire to restore justice and order – for instance if we are trying to reprove sin or set things right in our family. We just have to be careful not to let our anger overpower us or overshadow the call to love and forgive.

In Jesus’ case, his anger was in response to the unjust way the people were treating the temple. It was a controlled anger also, for immediately afterward, he continued his ministry of preaching and teaching with calmness, conviction, and clarity.

It’s okay to get angry – so long as we are vigilant and can keep our emotions in good control. So if you find yourself about to get angry, try your bet tom link your reaction to good reason, love, and humility. And once you have said your piece make sure to resolve the situation by restoring love and trust if at all possible.

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarroabel.blogspot.com/).