Just some thoughts

He was livid, never had we witnessed such anger coming from him. We neither expected it nor thought it possible. He literally lashed out at everyone carrying on business, for he knew they were swindling the customers, they were not concerned with assisting the people to sacrifice. They were only concerned with making a profit. So he upset their business tables and freed the sacrifices they were selling, there was mayhem in the Father's house. Not even the authorities had the nerve, oh they had the physical power to attempt to perhaps, but none dared to challenge him - this was divine authority at work. As we replay this event of Jesus in the Temple on Holy Week we are reminded Jesus said, 'His Father's place was a house of prayer!' As I grow older and look again, and again, at this scene I've come to realize there is a very significant, secondary, symbolic action taking place here by Jesus. Once a year the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make intercession for the people's sins. Before this happened the Temple would be scrubbed from top to bottom, no nook/cranny missed, it was quite an awesome task. Then the clothes of the High Priest would be cleansed, there could be no stains, no spots. Jesus, our High Priest, was to be offered in intercession for us that week, on a splinter covered cross he would enter the Holy of Holies. The curtain would be rent from top to bottom ... it was necessary that everything be cleansed. In overturning the money changers, Jesus was cleansing the Temple. Holy Week calls us to a time of cleansing, only its not a cleansing we can perform, only Christ can, but we need to give him permission, and then be available.

This past week I completed reading two books: 'Sin Boldly:A Field Guide for Grace' by Cathleen Falsani and 'The Cross Gardener' by Jason Wright. I enjoyed Cathleen's book, and agree with the author that 'Grace makes no sense to our human minds,' for it occures at the most unexpected times and places, and through the most unusual people. Perhaps because we have our own expectations of what grace should look like we are so often surprised by it. I appreciate the author's illustrations of it, even though there are times when I question her theology. It would serve all of us well to perhaps reflect more on the grace that dominates our living and help us to be more appreciative not only of God but those who allow Him to exercise that grace through their lives toward us. The new book by Jason Wright, 'The Cross Gardener,' [He also wrote Christmas Jars and The Wednesday Letters] is a book that has a surprise ending that even Sherlock Holmes would have trouble anticipating. Its a wonderful book that talks about God's presence with us all of our lives, especially at that time when we depart this world and enter eternity. It also deals with how necessary it is to get on with our lives as soon as possible after the tragic death of a loved one, so that we can help those who, like us, are survivors. I also enjoyed Jason's prior book 'The Wednesday Letters.' It seems that in both books the author is dealing with issues that are common to all of us, yet the answers are so often hard to come by. Perhaps its that personal flavor that captivates us?