St. George's Episcopal Church
Roseburg, Oregon
The Third Sunday of Lent
19 March 2006
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Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19:1-14
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
The Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 74 th General Convention of the ECUSA
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)
The Temple Tizzy
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop, Rector
The process of preparing a sermon is sometimes difficult. The Bible texts seem to have their own voice, and, like a deep, personal conversation with a human being, they look up and ask, “So what do you think about that?” And, like many real conversations I have, I look back with a blank expression borne of conflicting ideas and feelings about what I have just heard. “Can I get back to you on that?” I want to say.
Apparently I am not alone with regard to today’s Gospel lesson from John. Other preachers I have spoken with about the story of Jesus’ tizzy in the Temple have given me the blank look, or suggested that the Psalm might be an interesting focus for the sermon message.
Two of the resources I have found particularly useful in the past ignored the Gospel completely. Is it because the story is so familiar, there is nothing new to say? Or perhaps is it because we have this image of Jesus as the ultimate peace maker, the consummate gentle man, who never got angry or upset about anything? Or are we just more comfortable with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, with sheep at his feet, a child on his lap; the adoring disciples around him soaking up his gentle, yet profound wisdom; deftly, but gently, besting those always belligerent, rule-loving Pharisees when they try to trap him; compassionately healing all who come to him. If that is our only view of Jesus, then I would say that we are in danger of carving an idol out of the pages of the New Testament. We may have made Jesus in our own image.
The giving of the ten commandments we heard from Exodus today warns us about making idols “whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” While Jesus was compassionate and loving and caring, he was also a man of passion, who sought justice and equality, and fairness.
If anything, the story of Jesus overturning the tables ought to give us pause, and make us rethink our conceptions of the carpenter from Nazareth. The author Ann Weems, who is also an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church, wrote this poem recently that speaks to the reality that is Jesus, and reminds us of the very real tendency we have of making idols of so many things – even things that on the surface seem good and worthwhile. [1]
Our church school teacher tried to dilute the story,
but I had a picture of Jesus with the whip in his hand
The whip was snapping … I could almost hear it. …
The moneychangers cowered against the whip’s threat;
Tables were overturned.
Some of the men were up and running.
The cows and sheep were scattering.
Doves were scrambling in their cages.
Coins were rolling and flying through the air.
The face of Jesus showed fury!
Cows and sheep and doves sold for sacrifices,
Roman money changed into the Tyrian shekels
required for the annual head tax
that went into the temple treasury.
In other words, it was church business.
But Jesus thought otherwise:
God’s house was being desecrated.
He drove the moneychangers out of the temple.
But that was then
and that was that.
Except of course.
they did tear down the temple ...
Jesus’ temple
and he did rebuild it three days later.
Crucifixion. Resurrection.
Then the disciples understood
that the Church was the Body of Jesus.
O Jesus, you showed us God
when you showed yourself,
but we didn’t see, we didn’t see.
The Word of God walked across our lives,
but we didn’t hear; we didn’t hear.
We didn’t allow your footsteps
to crunch into our souls.
We stuck to business as usual,
even church business,
even on Sunday.
And our tables are up for overturning.
Give us a sign.
Give us a sign
And we who have the rainbow
and all the stars in the sky
ask God for further ID.
As though there were no ten commandments,
as though we were never told
that God will not stand for idolatry.
As though we never heard of being
the people of God.
As though we never heard
of living with God in covenant.
There will be no other gods before me.
No other gods.
As though Jesus never said
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and soul and mind,
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
as yourself as yourself.
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.
Come, follow me.
Come, walk with me.
Come, Life abundant is with me.
“The heavens declare the glory of God!”
and yet, we forget to look out our windows
and we miss the word of God
from Day to Day!
“God’s law is perfect!
More to be desired than gold
even much fine gold.”
The coins for which we give our souls
are worthless compared to Life Abundant!
I showed my father the picture
of Jesus with the whip in his hand
and asked why Jesus was so mad
at the people in the temple.
Because, he said, they didn’t believe.
They didn’t walk in covenant with God.
They had no reverence for God’s word.
I’m glad, I said, that we believe.
My father let me walk away in innocence.
No other gods, and yet this Lent
we stumble over the gods in our sanctuaries,
stubbing our toes on gods of Self-Importance,
Self-Righteousness, and Egotism.
We bow down to Wealth and War and Power and Status
and Possessions and
Rules and Divisiveness as well as Our Own Agendas.
The list goes on and on
add to it or subtract ...
it makes no difference.
The gods are there
waiting to be fed.
Even the pastor can become an idol.
Even Jesus when we make him
in our own image.
Who do we say that he is?
And how can we live
with what we’ve been saying??
Jesus couldn’t live with the mockery
of the moneychangers in the temple.
His faith was fierce.
There was no compromising.
He lived and died so that we could live ...
abundantly
with God
in covenant
in community
in faith.
Forgive, O God, our mockery.
Forgive our agenda keeping
rather than covenant keeping.
Forgive the arrogance of preferring
our own words to yours.
Forgive our egotism
that leads us to think
we are wiser than you
Forgive our busyness that makes
us turn away from this war-pocked world.
Forgive us our divisiveness
that they might say of us again:
“How those Christians love one another!”
Forgive our controlling ways,
our bowing down to power and wealth and greed.
Forgive us for making rules
we’d rather follow than yours.
Give us the eyes to see Jesus
the courage to stand up
and speak out in his name
the love to feed the hungry
the compassion to heal the sick
the faithfulness to love mercy
the covenant stamina
to do justice in your name
and, O God, the humility
to walk in covenant with you.
During this Lenten time
give us the hearts to hear your word
and give us we pray,
the only Bread and Wine we need.
And Peace, O God, Peace!
in the name of Jesus
who is the Prince of Peace!
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Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work--you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
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.
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[1] Ann Weems. “No Other Gods.” A poem written for the Third Sunday in Lent. The Presbyterian Outlook. March 6/13, 2006 issue. Accessed 16 March 2006 at http://www.pres-outlook.com/. Copyright 2006 by The Presbyterian Outlook.
The Mission of St. George’s Episcopal Church is to lead people to love Jesus, and, through worship and scripture, to become empowered as a servant body – to each other, to our community, and to the world. For information about St. George’s Episcopal Church and its life and mission, please contact us at 1024 Southeast Cass Avenue , Roseburg, OR 97470 or by phone at (541) 673-4048 or (541) 680-3465. Contact Bill by email at wgstroop@earthlink.net and visit our church at http://www.roseburgchurch.net |
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Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2006, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
16 March 2006
This publication, ie. this page and the preceding document that has a link to this page, are copyrighted, except for the poem by Ann Weems which is copyrighted by The Presbyterian Outlook, as noted above. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part of it may in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or any other means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be broadcast or transmitted without the prior permission of the publisher.