Third Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Exodus 20:1-17, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, and John 2:13-25. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 19 (Psalm 19:8-11).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 19 "God's Glory, Power and Wisdom in the Law"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said,"Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, "Zeal for your house will consume me.'

At this the Jews answered and said to him,"What sign can you show us for doing this?"

Jesus answered and said to them,"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

The Jews said,“"his temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?"

But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Third Sunday of Lent (March 8, 2015)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Third Sunday of Lent (March 8, 2015)

Msgr. Charles Pope: A Picture of the Transformed Human Person – A Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (7 MAR 15)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Time to Clean House!

Word on Fire: The Ten Commandments (Cycle B * Lent * Week 3)

Dr. Scott Hahn: Spiritual Sacrifices (March 8th 2015 - Third Sunday of Lent)

CWR Blog: True Worship and the Cleansing of the Temple: On the Readings for Sunday, March 8, 2015, the Third Sunday of Lent (7 MAR 15)

Spirituality of the Readings: Why So Upset? (3rd Sunday of Lent B)

The Word Embodied: Imperatives of Faith (3rd Sunday of Lent B)

Historical Cultural Context: A New Temple (3rd Sunday of Lent B)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine (3rd Sunday of Lent B)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Third Sunday of Lent (6 MAR 15)