God is free to act in ways incomprehensible to human beings!

March 3, Third Sunday of Lent  
Daily Readings: Exodus 20:1–17, 1 Corinthians 1:22–25, John 2:13–25

During the Holy Season of Lent, the faithful are asked to deepen their faith in God and their commitment to God’s people. The Decalogue that God willed to give to the chosen people expressed the deep bond that existed between them. The people of Israel's basic vocation is to live in communion with God and their neighbors. Observing these commandments meticulously guarantees life, progeny, and prosperity. This does not mean that Judaism is a religion of mere rules and regulations; it is one of relationships.
People forget about this aspect. Jesus' birth and mission aim to restore the broken and bruised relationship. This scenario is amply visible in the Temple of Jerusalem when the religious leaders manage to transform the house of prayer into a marketplace without any conscience. The zeal for the house of God makes Jesus enraged, and he chases them away. He draws people's attention to what he believes is a perversion of its purpose and function.

He is not able to accept and tolerate the profanation of the Temple, a place of worship that plays a central role in maintaining the relationship between God and His people. The Jewish religious authorities, driven by their hunger for power and wealth, lose sight of all these. That is why the Temple needs cleansing. Who else can do it better than Jesus, the Son of God Himself?

St. Paul explains the centrality of the Holy Cross in the lives of Christians. In contrast to the Jews, who demand signs, and the Greeks, who desire wisdom, Paul proclaims Christ crucified. The Jews see Jesus' cross as a stumbling block and the Gentiles as foolishness, but to Paul and the chosen people, it is the power and wisdom of God. St. Paul strongly declares that “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor 1:25). A crucified Messiah is patently dishonorable and outright shameful. That means God is free to act in ways incomprehensible to human beings. Blessed are they who accept God’s ways and find meaning in their existence.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: Rules and regulations are necessary for any society or organization to live an orderly and peaceful life. As long as one does not infringe on the freedom of the other, one is free to do what one wants. How do I consider the commandments of God? How serious am I about observing these commandments?