3RD SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR B/HOMILY
THEME: DISTRACTIONS IN OUR WORSHIP!
BY: Benedict AGBO (Rev Fr)
* Ex 20: 1 – 17, 1 Cor 1: 22 – 25, Jn 2: 13 – 25.
A. PREAMBLE
The basics of Christian religion are; first, a relationship with God through obedience to his commandments (as we find in today’s 1st reading) and a positive influence /change in our behavior. Next, is a renewal in the quality of our worship. The Greeks thought they had found another ‘Plato’ in Jesus while the Jews thought they have found a miracle worker (as mentioned in today’s 2nd reading) who will rescue them from the dominion of the Romans. But Jesus had a completely different idea about his mission on earth. He told them that the time is coming and has come already when true believers will worship the father in spirit and truth, Jn 4 : 24.
In today’s gospel pericope Jesus loudly condemns the distractions in worship coming from the temple businessmen. He says: ‘My house should be a house of prayer and should not be turned into a den of robbers’, Jn 2: 13 – 25. This was a redaction of Isaiah 55: 7.
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B. HISTORICAL REVIEW
A brief historical review of biblical events reveals the sad experience the Israelites have had with regards to the destruction of the temple: First was the destruction of the tabernacle of Shiloh during the time of Eli and Prophet Samuel due to high rate of corruption in the house of God. Second was the tragic destruction of Solomon’s temple and the cataclysmic deportation of the Israelites to Babylon due to infidelity. Next would be the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem in 70 A.D by the Romans because of temple abuse and their rejection of Jesus Christ as the messiah. In all these, the caveat remains that the Church of God must be a place of spiritual worship and transformation and not a parody of the sacred (Jn 4: 24, Eph 2: 22).
C. MODERN DAY DISTRACTIONS IN OUR CHURCHES
Let’s take note of the following modern – day distractions in our churches:
1. Money – drive; Whether in form of tithe offering, barzaar offering, launching, thanksgiving offering, sales, etc. Yes! The church can’t do without money but there shouldn’t be too much fund – raising especially when the Word of God would be rushed to allow more time for such purposes. The CBCN recommends not more than once in a month (for project Sunday) and not more than once in a year (for barzaar).
2. Liturgical noise; Our useless rituals (Amos 5: 22), noisy music that does not actually lift us up to God but only entertain us.
3. Immodest dressing; It is a liturgical absurdity to find women and men (sometimes) dressed like Nollywood actors inside the church, especially during wedding ceremonies. Youths are beginning to use the church as rendezvous with their boy/girl friends.
4. Perversions in the Word of God; Preachers now dilute the moral impact of the Word of God and make their delivery of ‘God’s message’ so full of decorations and grandiloquence that one begins to search fruitlessly for the ‘Godness’ in the word.
5. Political machinations; Politicians now target church functions as fertile ground for their campaign and materialistic showmanship and worst still, sometimes manipulate the message that the so – called ‘Man of God’ delivers. In worship, we are reminded today that our relationship with God and our neighbor must remain the centrifugal point (Ex 20: 1 – 17).
D. CONCLUSION
The cleansing of the temple by Jesus was a sign that the messianic purification of the temple was at hand. Jesus brought a new concept of the temple as our body. God does not want holocaust offerings anymore but has given us a body with which we can now say: ‘Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will’, Heb 10: 19. Jesus is like Jacob’s ladder, Gen 28: 22 through which we can assess God. He said: ‘No one can come to the Father except through me’, Jn 14: 6.
The Second Vatican Council has brought a new spirit of renewal in worship through Inculturation and all elements that promote active participation. The onus now lies on the present day Christians to avoid all forms of distractions that can arise from this lease of freedom in our worship. There is the cultic dimension to worship (what we do), the evangelical dimension (what we preach) and the celebrative dimension (how we feel) in worship. Liturgical prayer, preaching, music, dressing and actions must not via away from the above 3 dimensions. Fund-raising and other activities must remain secondary. The most important thing is to avoid all forms of rupture in our relationships with God and neighbour so that we would be able to worship the father in spirit and truth. Happy Sunday dear friends!
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