Blessings result from living the law

March 23, 2003 -- Third Sunday of Lent

	Fr. Richard Ver Bust

In the culture of our day, laws have for us a binding force. When we look to scripture though, law has a different meaning. The Hebrew word for law is Torah, translated as teaching or instruction. In the best of the theology of the Old Testament, Torah was considered a guide to good living. It was considered the response that we must give because of God's loving care. Experience had shown that God was a saving God and we, in turn, were expected to respond out of thankfulness for that salvation.

Lent
• Lent-related articles  • 2003 Lenten Wish List (3/7 issue)  • Lenten rules (2/28 issue)

The first reading from the Book of Exodus illustrates this idea. God is identified as the God who had brought Israel out of the slavery of Egypt. The Ten Commandments or Ten Words were to be the basic response expected of the people who had experienced that salvation. These commandments were part of the covenant God made with Israel which established the idea that he was their God and they were his people. This relationship brought with it the expectation of how one should live. Underlying these commandments were basic human and religious values. They were not arbitrary but brought into focus what God's people should do.

The psalm we use and its refrain teaches us more about our responsibility in living the law. The psalm praises the law for its teaching qualities. It also shows the blessings that result from living the law. It encourages people to live what God has commanded for it truly is the will of God for his people.

Paul teaches the people of Corinth that they should not expect God's standards to be what we as humans expect. He criticizes both Jew and Gentile for not realizing this. He says that the Jews demanded signs as proofs and the Gentiles or Greeks always wanted everything to be proved by reason. A crucified Christ was contrary to what both cultures expected. The cross was a sign that God worked in ways different than what human beings expected. Faith helps us understand what God has done and is doing.

Our Gospel reading this Sunday operates out of John's frequent use of misunderstanding. Everything centers around the theme of the temple. Jesus in a prophetic action emphasizes the real meaning of the temple. The scene takes place during the Feast of the Passover. Jesus, by his actions, incurs the anger of many. While it is true that the outer part of the temple was an actual marketplace, the author of the gospel wanted to teach that the real temple was something else. The allusions to what the prophet Zechariah taught emphasize the coming of a new time in which the market is no longer needed. So the author is making the claim that Jesus is the new temple and has brought messianic times into existence.

The misunderstanding arises when Jesus speaks about the temple meaning his body and the authorities are thinking in terms of the physical structure of the temple. They want a sign to prove what he is saying. The sign will take place later when Jesus is crucified and is raised.

Jesus is the center of our faith experiences. He is the new temple. What he did for us challenges us to obey his teachings. We, like Israel of old, should respond because we have experienced Christ's saving grace. Lent can be the time in which we will find ourselves knowing and loving God more deeply.

(Fr. Ver Bust holds the title of professor emeritus in religious studies at St. Norbert College, De Pere.)