This account appears in all four gospels, but John places it at the beginning of Jesus ministry. This stands in contrast to the Synoptics (Mark, Matthew and Luke) who put it near the end of his life. John’s style includes the use of enigmatic and symbolic statements that were surely not understood at the moment in which the events happened. By the time the gospel was written, the temple had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.C. The destruction of the temple was a spiritual disaster for Israel and it surely affected the early Jewish Christians. Their loss was eased by John’s theology of the Christ-temple. The temple stood in need of purification and its function would be replaced by the risen- body of Christ.

This saying about the destruction of the temple occurs in various forms in Matthew and Mark: “I can destroy the temple of God…”. “I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.” This event is symbolic of Jesus’ resurrection and the resulting community of the new Covenant.

Today’s reading offers three significant messages:

• The text reflects the antagonism between Jews and Christians during the time in which John writes his Gospel (90-100 A.C.) when Christians were not considered a Jewish sect any longer.
   
• The Gospel invites us to believe not because of the signs we see, but because we have come to accept and understand Jesus and his message.
   
• Let is a time to “clean our hearts” of all that is not of God.

For our personal reflection:

1. Who are the “merchants” that pollute my temple? Self-centeredness, rash judgment of others, envy, etc.?
    
2. Lent is a good time for spring cleaning. What kind of debris is there between my relationship with God and my concern toward others?

Suggested readings:
Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 364; 574-576; 583594.

Let’s have some fun playing with the dialogue between Jesus and the woman. It’s almost comic: Two people talking to each other on two totally different levels without mush apparent connecting. Isn’t Jesus being really “high context”in this converstaion, using lots of innuendos, lots of symbols? and the woman is so low context, so literal. 

Jesus: Give me a drink.

Woman: Why are you talking to me, Man? You think I’m dirt. Think again if you think I’m going to help you.

Jesus: Don’t you know each of us is a gift of God? If you could accept me for who I am and not just think of me as the oppressor, you would have asked me for help. I would give you living water.

Woman: Come off it, Man! You don’t even have a bucket. How could you possibly give me anything? Who do you think you are, anyhow? Do you think you’re greater than Jacob?

Jesus: What I want to give you is already inside you. Maybe I can help you to bring it to life so that you’ll never be thirsty again.

Woman: Humph! I’d like to see you do that! Then I wouldn’t have to come to this well. I’d never have to deal with the other women who think I’m dirt too. Go ahead – make my day. Words are cheap … I’d sure like to see you do what you say you can do.

Jesus: First, call your husband.

Woman: I don’t have a husband.

Jesus: Yes, you have five husbands.

Woman: Okay, so you know about me. You’re a prophet. You’re going to tell me to straighten up my life … so tell me first, why do we have to worship in Jerusalem?

Jesus: God is Spirit. Worship neither here not there, but in Spirit.

Woman to the people: Come and see. Could he possibly be the Messiah?

How can we see ourselves in this dialogue?  How about the times we mistrust others – pre-judging them as pre-judging us? … not open to the gifts they can give us becuse we carry too much baggage of hurt to recognize our own gifts – the life giving waters withing us?

How about the times we block the bursting forth of God’s Reign in our world- getting bogged down in practicalities? (We don’t have buckets of time, energy, youth!) … focusing on divisions rather than the unity of the Spirit?(We have to worship this way of that.) like the disciples, not recognizing the ripened fields because it’s just not just harvest time yet?

For Reflection:

Reflect on the times you have hung in with the conversation, being vulnerable enough, honest enough, to reveal your doubts, our fears, our questions … allowing the conversation to pierce through your mistrust so that you finally recognize Jesus in the one with whom you are speaking … having the courage, risking rejection to let the people know that just possibly you may have met the Messiah .

On Saturday, April 2nd 2005, Pope John Paul II died. The world lost an inspiring leader, the Church a shepherd. In time of loss, it is important for us as Christians to remember and to celebrate the life of the one we miss. Pope John Paul was our Pope – a pope who seemed to live with us and touch us with his vibrant personality and engaging words. His death is the loss of a treasured friend. In saying goodbye to the shepherd of our Church, we celebrate his profound commitment to social justice, the needs of the poor, the dignity of each person and his unwavering opposition to violence and war – truly a man of peace. It is hard to forget his stance on that Ash Wednesday of 2000 as he apologized for God’s people’s sins against women, the Jews, Muslims and many others, reminding us all of our call to be men and women faithful to the Gospel. Who can forget this man, who though old in years, had a heart full of hope for youth – extending them an invitation to the life of the Gospel in the church? Without judgment and with a youthful glint in his eye, he accepted youth where they were at and challenged them to become God’s work of art. Who can forget his youthful and dynamic sprint descending down from the plane in 1984 on his first visit to Canada? Who can forget his faltering steps descending from a plane on his arrival to Canada only a few years ago in 2002?

We first met Pope John Paul II on our TV screen as a dynamic, lively and active man in 1978, and we journeyed with him as he gradually embraced the fragility of old age and sickness – he inspired us to see the beauty of God in all the moments of our life. “Do not be afraid” is his legacy to us, because the God of Jesus Christ will never leave us. God is with us in the vibrancy and in the fragility of our living … in life and in death. Without doubt, his broken body is transfigured and at rest in the loving embrace of God. At this significant moment in the life of God’s People, let us join our prayer to that of Pope John Paul II: May God give us a new Pope in the 21st century who will lead the Church in fidelity to the Gospel of peace and justice.
Until we meet again, Papa!