Sunday/Cleansing of the Temple

 

                  Sunday/Cleansing of the Temple                  

This week is the "Cleansing of the Temple," reported in all four evangelists. Many of Christ's quotes are from the Old Testament.

The people of Israel owed the firstborn male of all domestic animals (you could buy a "pure" substitute at the Temple) and every firstborn male child was "ransomed" for five shekels. So the Temple had become a bank, with vast holdings.

I could never come to a good understanding of Christ's anger here, his physical and human reaction. The bigger picture is, of course, Christ's seeing Himself as the Temple.

George Herbert:

Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back

                              Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

                             From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

                             If I lacked any thing.

 

A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:

                             Love said, You shall be he.

I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,

                             I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

                             Who made the eyes but I?

 

Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame

                             Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?

                             My dear, then I will serve.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

                             So I did sit and eat.