Third Sunday of Lent B

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

The gospel for the day with commentary and questions
Some optional questions for reflection
Prayers of Intercession
Cluster Prayer
The gospel of the week ahead with commentary and questions.

John 2: 13-25 Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money-changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.
During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man had in him.

This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings

Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us. cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

In today's money the Temple brought in millions of pounds not just for the loan-sharks and traders but for the Temple Treasury. The Vatican too has battled with its associations with money and corruption. As Jesus said so succinctly: "You cannot serve two masters."

Recall a time when you were upset with the institutional church.
How did you deal with it?
When has the message of the cross seemed absurd to you;
when have you seen its wisdom? *

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

In todays gospel, we witness the frustration and even anger of Jesus as he sees his father's house, the Temple, being turned into a marketplace. We are also reminded in the Old Testament reading that we should worship God alone and keep the sabbath holy. Let us ask God, our Father, to help us keep our eyes and hearts on him when our lives are so full of worldly temptations.