Clearing the Temple

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2:13-22

Gracious Creator you love all you made

freely you give us life and sustenance

yet we would turn gifts into profits

taking advantage of the least among us.

You came into a denigrated temple

a spiritual sanctuary turned market

profits and mark up the only focus

as people came to draw near to you.

We are people aching to draw near

yet far too often money calls us

we worry about our own security

destroying sanctuary with greed.

Remake us into seekers, dear Lord

let our only goal be knowing you

give us new hearts for love alone

and help us build sanctuary for others. Amen.