THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT B
THE SON FIGHTS FOR HIS FATHER
JN 2: 13-25
MESSAGE
In a rare display of fury, the Lord Jesus admonishes people, reminding them to show respect for the Temple, which he boldly claims as “my Father’s house.” Our Lenten gospel today unveils the Lord’s favored expression when referencing God. God is not merely Father; for Jesus, He is “my Father.” While Jesus conveys to people that God is “your Father,” his use of “my Father” is consistently exclusive, unique, and indicative of an irreplaceable connection to God. It signifies a distinct level of relationship that Jesus enjoys in the presence of God. Although all people are God’s children by grace and adoption, Jesus, by nature and from eternity, is God’s Son. Entirely from God, he is also entirely for God. It’s no wonder that after his death and Resurrection, Jesus’ followers aptly referred to him as Jesus, the Son of God.
In this third week of Lent, let us draw even closer to the Lord by contemplating his self-revelation as the Son. The Kingdom of God is at the core of Jesus’ heart, while God’s only Begotten Son, Jesus, is at the center of God’s heart. Before descending to earth, he was already the Son, and during his earthly sojourn, he lived as the Son not through privilege and entitlement, but through obedience, humility, and dedication to his Father.
REFLECT
Lent is the season when we return to God, acknowledging that we have turned our backs on Him through sin, error, and disobedience. Who better to guide us back to the Father of mercies than the Son, through whom His mercy reaches us sinners? Perhaps, it would be beneficial this week to set aside time for meditative prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
