John 2:13-22 (NRSV) Ways Faith Can Overturn the Marketplace’s Tables
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, with 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.
Devotion
Today’s scripture reading reminds us of when Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem ahead of Passover and saw that it had been turned into a marketplace. When he observed what was taking place, he overturned their tables, dumped out the money changers’ coins, and told them to take their goods out of the temple.
You may have heard in the news that on February 28th people across the country participated in an economic blackout. The blackout was part of a grass roots movement that called for people to abstain from purchasing any goods from major retailers. This was, and is, a way to effect systemic change and promote economic justice. When I first heard about this initiative, I started thinking about other small actions we can take in our own lives to make room for God and resista society that places too much value on money, productivity, and overconsumption.
In my brainstorming, some of the ideas I came up with include donating our time and/or money to one of the many outreach ministries at our church, taking faithful action by holding those in power accountable, and/or setting aside time in our busy schedules to unplug from technologyand spend time in nature. In engaging in one or more of these practices, you will find that youare not only nurturing your spiritual life, but you are also making space for God. This Lenten season, how will you live out the gospel and work to overturn the tables on those who place money over principle?
Prayer
Gracious and loving God,
We confess that we too often put our trust in princes and fail to place our faith in you. In this season of repentance, help guide us as we seek to live more simply and make more room for you in our lives. Just as your son, Jesus, overturned the tables in the marketplace, may we do what we can to fight against injustice and challenge those who place money over principle, all the while heeding the words of the Prophet Micah to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
John Curran