Mikurab's (synagogue) (the 3rd week of the Great Fast) Gospel Reading
After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they did not stay there [more than] a few days. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers sitting [at their booths]. So, he made a whip of cords and drove [them] all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; he also poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!” Then his disciples remembered that it was written: “Zeal for your house will devour me”(Psalm 68(69):9). Therefore, the Jews declared, “What sign do you show us, since you do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up!” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and you will raise it up in three days?” (But he was speaking of the sanctuary of his body). When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many began to believe in his Name, observing the signs which he was performing. But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew everyone, and because he did not need a witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (John 2:12-end EOB)
Their visit to Capernaum is yet again another instance of the everlasting mercy of God. His mercy is not just for the people of Israel, whether that is the old Israel or the new Israel (the Orthodox Church or the body of Christ). We need to keep our arms wide and embrace people that our society deems to be outsiders. Mohawks, piercings, tattoos and dreadlocks should not preclude your neighbor from the table fellowship of your parish. By going to Jerusalem for the Passover Jesus shows us that though observing holidays means nothing to God, we should consider ourselves as less than others and observe these days.
“Zeal for your house will devour me”. We learn two important instructions from this quote
1) The Older testament is still relevant, because the disciples of Jesus use it.
2)Since our bodies are the new temples of God, we should approach internal spiritual cleaning and reducing of transgressions against God and our neighbor with the same fervor that Jesus has when admonishing these desecrators of the house of God.
The main arena for the forgiveness of sins was the ONE temple that existed in the fleshly Jerusalem (land of peace). Jesus tells them
1) that he is the ONE temple for the forgiveness of sins
2) that they will kill him (the one temple for the forgiveness of sins)
3) that he will be raised from the dead
We learn that when you instruct people now, they may not understand the full or even the partial application of your instruction, in the moment or the next few days. But, you should instruct them anyway, because it may one day lead to them receiving life and walking in the Spirit. Even in a place that is not conducive to learning the instructions of God, his name has the power to grasp you. The last bit reminds us of the divinity of the Anointed Jesus, who knows all.
Furthermore, we must love each other.