Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31
Gospel: John 2:13–22 (23–25)
Third Sunday of Lent: Theme for Today’s Liturgy
In this season of Lent, we are again on our way to Calvary. There Christ suffered, bled, and died, forever breaking the power of Satan to accuse the saints who wash their robes in the blood shed for us all. Thus we fix our eyes on Jesus (Gradual). We rely upon the forgiveness he earned for us. On our own, we could not obey the Law of God and were condemned with all those who disobey it. But God in his wisdom (Epistle) chose to save us and all who boast not in their works but in the Lord’s. The Gospel shows how far from the purity of the Law in the precepts of God the people of Israel had fallen. They rejected God’s plan for them. However, Christ did overcome in three days. The temple of his body would be restored in the resurrection, which guarantees life for us all.