Imagine it....
Coins everywhere... and likely people chasing them.
The sounds of frightened animals.
Jesus overturning tables!
Maybe I shouldn’t.... but I love that Jesus was angry!
We can call it righteous anger...
and truly he was angry for a good reason,
but no matter how hard Biblical commentators
have tried to clean up the humanity of Jesus,
so that he appears only humble and patient and kind....
here in the Temple, Jesus becomes angry.
Angry with the religious authorities,
for co-operating with the violent and oppressive,
Roman Imperial system.
Angry that the courtyard of the Temple smelled like a barnyard,
with sheep and cattle noises, doves cooing in their cages.
Angry at the clink, clink of heavy coins falling on tables,
and voices raised in arguments over the rates of exchange.
Busy people trying to get the best deal on an animal
for the year’s Passover offering.
And no-one ...seemingly caring about finding a calm place,
a holy place .... to stop and pray.
People have forgotten that this is a Temple,
a place to meet the Holy, to pray and to be free.
So.... Jesus turns over the tables... creating a scene.
His normal, human emotions are out in the open,
for all to see.
Still... the institutional Church frowns upon anger!
But ... as a familiar quote says:
‘Jesus didn’t come to start an institution;
Jesus came into the world to start a movement!’
Would you like to be a part of the movement?
A movement –
driven and given by the Holy Spirit.
A movement driven, given and animated by the Holy Spirit..
that, life-giving force that is the very breath of God!
Would you like to be a part of a movement that changes people’s lives,
and treats all persons with respect, and takes the love of God,
to the people that need it most??
As we continue to journey through Lent,
we need moments animated by the Holy Spirit..
and we yearn for moments tangled with the very breath of God!
As we celebrate our Missional sisters and brothers,
we honour our diversity and work towards greater unity
and hold each other in prayer !
If you live out your faith primarily with an Missional heart,
then you are the church in the world... in the neighbourhood.
You volunteer at the local food bank,
and where you see God at work in the world... you go and help out.
During the season of Lent,
you are encouraged to add something to your day, to your living.
Two weeks ago... I invited you to make a list of people you know and care about,
and then to pray for them every day.
Last week I challenged you to be in touch with a family member
that is on the fringes of your regular contacts.
To call, check in, and wish them well.
This week I would like you to respond to something you hear or see or read.
Perhaps you watch a person picking up some litter,
or a one person helping another person ..
let them know you saw them doing something kind...
and say thank you!
Perhaps you read a positive article in the paper... say thank you somehow;
or maybe you hear a negative remark about a person...
speak up, name the comment as inappropriate,
and stand with the marginalized person.
This week respond ...and make a difference.
When I was a youth... I sang in a Gospel choir.
There were about 15 of us... our group was called His Quire...
His for Jesus... and Quire.. Q-u-i-r-e.
meaning a gathering of something.
We sang together, but we also helped out in the community.
Singing at care homes, moving chairs for church groups,
baking cookies to raise money, and other things.
We learned many songs... and a few of them I still sing
now and then....
This one, I find myself singing quite often:
You’re the only Bible people read today.
You’re the only Bible people read today.
Are you a good example,
Do they feel it when you pray?
You’re the only pointer, showing them the way,
You’re the only Bible people know.
Some they don’t hear your talk,
they just judge by your walk.
Actions always speak loud, so who dares.
Show the world where you stand,
Lend a strong helping hand
Show the lost, the Creator who cares.
In a world where prayer is not said at school,
and not so much around a family table either....
where we... our children and grandchildren are in the minority
if we attend church on a Sunday...
where many people don’t read their Bibles every day...
or even own one.....
We are what people see... what people watch,
we represent the stories of Jesus, the Good News,
How we treat the poor, the marginalized, the lost and the lonely...
that is how people will see God... the Christ... the Gospel.
We may be... the only Bible that some folks ever read...
and they don’t even know it.... but we must.. we must understand.
When we are living the way that God asks us to live,
we are sharing the mission of God.
You and I might be the closest thing that some people
come.... to experiencing the love of God.
Now that’s pretty scary... at least it is for me.
But I do know that people watch us differently...
when they know we go to church.
There is a story about a man in a corner store,
paying for some candy.
As he is leaving, he notices that the clerk
gave him too much change.
He tells her, and gives the money back.
As he gets into his car, he notices the clerk nearby.
She says... “I heard you in church the other day,
and I wanted to see if you meant what you said.
I gave you too much change on purpose.
Thanks for being honest... I just had to know.”
People also want to see if we are real... if we are anything like them?
And we are.... but we also may have something that others don’t have.
It doesn’t make us better.. but it should make a difference.
Knowing that we are accompanied by a loving God should make a difference.
Knowing that the Jesus we follow..
is the Jesus who tossed over tables because he loved radically...
because he chose to see the world differently,
and values people, and showed compassion, and celebrated diversity.
It should make a difference that we serve a gracious God,
that transforms us with gentleness and possibilities.
It matters that we are a part of breaking down boundaries and limitations,
in order that all people are free, and that creation has a chance.
It matters that we are people of prayer,
holding one another in prayer as we share conversations with God.
It matters that we are at the food bank, in schools
and walking in the spirit of reconciliation.
This story of Jesus clearing the Temple,
is found in all four gospels,
but it has a unique position in the Gospel of John.
Matthew, Mark and Luke, all place this incident
late in the life of Jesus, during the last week of his life,
after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem
with the people waving palm branches and shouting their “Hosannas.”
and the next day he walks into the Temple,
and throws out the money changers.
In John we find this story in chapter 2!
After his first recorded miracle... water into wine...
Jesus walks into the Temple,
and throws out the money changers.
Water into wine,
and the clearing of the Temple....
are both transformation stories.
Transformational events!
A way of breaking down boundaries and limitations,
seeing the world differently,
and focusing on God’s presence in all things.
Transformational events!
Changing people’s lives...
treating all persons with respect, and taking the love of God,
to the people that need it most.
Just as the Holy Spirit went with the disciples of Jesus then....
the Holy Spirit goes with us...
to do the work we have been given to do.
To stand up for justice in the face of injustice.
To weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice.
To lift up the poor and downtrodden.
To be the hands and feet of the Christ,
in a world that so desperately craves reconciliation and healing.
To spread the joy of the Christ in the world.
And while we are at it.... perhaps we might need to turn over a few tables.
May it be so.... AMEN