Lent isn’t just a time to be intentional about spiritual renewal. It also coincides with another sacred ritual: spring cleaning. The clutter and accrual of the indoors seasons (fall and winter) need to be cleaned out, sorted out, and in some cases tossed out, to make room in our closets and consciousness for the new life of spring.

This week’s gospel text is Jesus’ burst of spring cleaning. While the synoptic texts place Jesus’ temple tantrum towards the end of his ministry (Mark 11:15-17; Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46), John’s text puts this redecorating at the beginning of Jesus’ public mission. John’s placement keeps up a theme of “newness,” re-creation, which propels the first words and action of the public Jesus.

First, at the wedding in Cana, Jesus creates “new” wine. Then, with thi…