Driving Out the Money Changers
March 15, 2009
Gospel: John 2:13-25
Looking back on his life, Mark Twain made this comment about his father: “When I was sixteen I thought my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand to have the old man around. When I got to be twenty-one, I was surprised how much he had learned in five years.”
Most everyone here has experienced children or grandchildren going through that period in life we call the “terrible teens.” It is a time of rebellion – against parents and teachers, rules and laws - even against God. What we sometimes tend to forget – but Mark Twain acknowledged – is that we went through it too.
However, at some point in life, most of us come to realize the necessity of laws and rules, and we begin to see that most of them serve a purpose. We recognize that laws are necessary for our own safety and protection.
The Ten Commandments – the law that God handed down to Moses on Mt. Sinai – are meant to protect us from ourselves. The first three deal with our relationship to God – the rest with our relationship to one another.
God was emphatic when he gave Moses these commandments. “I am the Lord your God, you shall not have other Gods before me.” “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.” “Honor your father and mother.” You shall not kill - commit adultery – steal – or bear false witness. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house – or his wife – or anything to belongs to him” (I think it’s that last part about “coveting” that gets many of us in trouble.”)
The Ten Commandments are like highway signs that God has given us for our journey through life. We only make this journey once and following these signs will save us a great deal of misery and pain. They teach us what is necessary for living a full life – and they express God’s will for us. They provide us with a shortcut to wisdom – a wisdom we could never acquire by ourselves.
Throughout the ages many have regarded the Ten Commandments – if they considered them at all - more like the Ten Suggestions. This is why Jesus was so angry when he arrived at the Temple for Passover and found it filled with animals and moneychangers. Had these people forgotten the commandment about honoring God? They had brought animals into the temple area so they could sell them to people who wanted to offer a sacrifice. If you think that is not so bad remember that no one has ever been able to potty train an ox.
In John’s gospel, Jesus is not angered just because they are ripping people off - He is angered by their very presence. By doing business in God’s house, they are profaning it – they are making improper use of a holy place. They are violating the first commandment because they are worshipping the god of money instead of the One True God.
This gospel reminds me of the time we were in Jerusalem, walking the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa. There were vendors on both sides, selling everything from knick-knacks to religious articles and vestments. I remember that one shouted out to us, “Make the fifteenth station the t-shirt shop!”
Just this week Pat and I attended a very nice event at a religious facility in the diocese – that will remain nameless. There was good food and great entertainment. Towards the end of the evening, one of the entertainers was singing a medley of beautiful old Italian songs when someone came up to him and whispered in his ear that he had to make “a special announcement.” The special announcement was an auction! They interrupted the singer in the middle of his set so they could conduct an auction to raise money.
I was furious. The cause may have been worthwhile - but did it warrant such disrespect to the entertainer? When did fundraising take the place of old-fashioned good manners?
The mission of the Church is to impart God’s values to the world. We should never allow it to be tainted by the values of the world. “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
Unfortunately, most of us have been guilty of profaning the holy in our midst. One example is Christmas, which has become for many an orgy of spending that attempts to meet needs that cannot be satisfied with money. If you look around the stores, you will see that they are trying to do the same with Easter.
We have all sinned – we have all violated God’s commandments – but Jesus gives us hope. When he was asked to give a sign that would confirm his authority to drive out the moneychangers, Jesus responded by saying: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He was referring, of course, to his death and resurrection.
It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that makes forgiveness possible. When we turn holy things into unholy things, Christ’s death and resurrection can lead us back to holy ground. When we profane things that should bless us, the cross and resurrection open the door to restoring the blessing. At one time or another, we have all been broken - but when we return to the basic truths that God gave us on Mt. Sinai - and when we bring our brokenness to Jesus – we are made whole again
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