"Zeal for your house devours me." (Ps. 69:9) In remembering these words ( in retrospect, of course) the disciples came to realise that Jesus had come to 'fulfill the law and the prophets'; the pharisees and scribes... religious authorities, of the time had made the Temple of God equal to a "market place"; "a den of robbers" ( Mk 11:17; Lk 19:46).

The presence of God was violated with all the cheating of the savings of poor, unsuspecting pilgrims, coming to celebrate the Passover, with their offerings, which had to be surrendered as being unfit for sacrifice. In return they had to purchase offerings, from the Temple authorities, using Temple money.

We cannot recall any other incident where Jesus acted with such passionate anger! We, who have been made into the image and likeness of God are violated as well by the evil we do to ourselves and others. This 'buying and selling' takes many forms in our lifestyle: our dishonesty in speech and action to ourselves and to others.

The Passover was a time of purification for the Jews (Jn.11:55). This first Passover incident of the Cleansing of the temple (Jn. 2) is but a prelude to the final Passover, when the Temple of his Body will be destroyed, so as to open for us the Presence of God, to be worshipped in spirit and truth.