Out of the Darkness
The Tipping Point
Photo By: FLikcr/Waterloo Hildreds
(As I compose this article, it is the eve of the Feast of St. John Lateran. If you are unfamiliar with the origins of the feast, I will include more information below.)
In the Gospel reading, St John writes of a very curious incident. Jesus enters the temple, and is quite disturbed by what He encounters:
“He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.”
The unexpected part comes when we read of His response:
“He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, ‘Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.’”
Well, that escalated quickly! The meek and lowly Teacher has overstepped His bounds here, hasn’t He? What a tirade from the One who taught of loving our enemies!
However, the Gospel follows the reading from I Corinthians 3: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” [emphasis mine]
When we take these two readings together, we realize the visual aid Jesus was giving: the temple was to be a holy place, dedicated to God and to prayer. As temples of God, we are to be holy, dedicated to God and prayer!
Well then, what about all this tipping of tables and driving out of merchants?
I guess I would look at it this way: We all have “money changers” and dirty animals in our lives. As people who are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we are to be separated to God. We are to be “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” (1 Peter 2:9) But if there are things in our lives that are unholy, then it’s time for some “table tipping!” We need to allow God to remove anything that would keep us from fulfilling our roles as His people. We must step away from those thoughts, words, and deeds which are unpleasing to God.
For only as we submit ourselves to this cleansing, will we be fit for the task of “proclaim(ing) the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
(For more insight into the history of this feast: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09014b.htm)
About the Author
Joni grew up on a farm in Kansas. She is a wife and mother who has been involved in various ministries from small towns to inner cities. After a number of years in Protestant ministry, she, her husband, and their children were received into the Catholic Church in 2007. She now resides in northeast Ohio, where she is private piano instructor. She is involved in her home parish working with music ministry. She has been blogging since 2006.
