Jesus found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as money changers in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. 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 …’ (Jn 2: 14-15).
Jesus was angry. Are we passionate about anything in our lives today? Love is the measure of faith. Heal the wounds. Sometimes when a cancer is aggressive the healing therapy must also be aggressive.
There are times when Christian love demands that we show compassion to those who have been hurt. And there are times when Christian love demands that we speak out in protest against those who are doing the hurting.
Dr. Martin Luther King once said this: “I think the Good Samaritan is a great individual. I, of course, like and respect the Good Samaritan… but I don’t want to be a Good Samaritan … I am tired of picking up people along the Jericho Road. I am tired of seeing people battered and bruised and bloody, injured and jumped on along the Jericho Roads of life. This road is dangerous. I don’t want to pick up anyone else, along this Jericho Road; I want to fix … the Jericho Road. I want to pave the Jericho Road; I want to pave the Jericho Road; make the Jericho Road safe (for passage) by everybody ….
Jesus took a whip of cords” and “He drove them out of the temple” and “He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables,” not because he hated anyone but because he cared for people.
The voice of protest will always have its place in Christian ministry, but also too will be the healing voice of reconciliation. Let us never be afraid to express our Christian love in the voice of protest. In the great tradition of the Old Testament prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Ezekiel, Amos, Micah --- right on down the line --- as long as there are wrongs which must be made right --- be they Main Street or Wall Street ---in highest offices or lowliest tenements --- wherever they occur --- this is the tradition that must live.
God bless! Have a wonderful week!