I am Philostina, but people call
me the Samaritan woman. I have followed Jesus since we met at the well in
Samaria. I remember that day so clearly, he changed my life forever. In fact, Sychar has never been the same.
I know Jesus pretty well. I have
been through a lot with him, but I have never seen him like this before. I was
terrified when I was with him today in the temple area. He was so angry that he
made a whip and was lashing it all over the place. Jesus has always been about
honesty and truth, he works hard to teach others what is just, and whenever he
can, he lifts up the lowly, the poor; people like me who never had a chance.
Today in the temple was no different in this regard, but his emotions really
got the better of him.
Jesus is challenging many ideas
and customs about his Jewish tradition. The poor and the widows are having such
a hard time paying the customary offerings; Jesus sees this as an unnecessary
and cruel burden. The money changers as well, they are here to be of service to
people who have come so far to worship, they could be so hospitable if they
wanted to, but instead they exact more when they convert the money to local
currency, cheating the people. It shouldn’t be so hard for people to worship.
Jesus correctly characterized this as a den of thieves, giving new meaning to
the word Passover.
I am not a Jew, so I don’t know
the scriptures as Peter and Andrew and some of the others, but I do know that
every time Jesus references the Holy Word, he is begging for restoration and
renewal simultaneously. He is reminding
people that their God is asking for mercy. Today in the temple he replaced dishonesty
with mercy and loving kindness. My heart breaks for Jesus as he constantly
reaches out to offer the way of truth, mercy and justice and he is beaten down
by jealousy.
I do fear this Passover though,
he has been breaking so many traditions and last week when he raised his best
friend Lazarus from the dead, the word traveled fast to the Sanhedrin, who have been awaiting his arrival
here, I think they want to put him on trial.
…………………………..
Lord, when I encounter
injustice, help me to respond with peace.
May I stand with those for whom there is no peace, no justice. May the
temple of my heart be filled with compassion for those in need of healing and
hope Amen.
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