Jesus purposely turned over the tables in the temple because they made a mess of His Fathers house by turning it into a marketplace.
Think of how any parent reacts to their child's room utterly destroyed. In those moments I always got frustrated, especially if I knew the instructions on how to clean were received. Most times I'd collect the messy items in box then put them away for weeks as a punishment.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke's Gospel clear instruction is given to make a house of prayer, not a den of robbers. Mark also reminds us this house of prayer is for all nations.
Jesus clearly tells us to prepare a place for His arrival. We don't know the day or the hour, He said.
Before this temple tantrum occurs, disciples arranged Jesus' transportation exactly as instructed and the crowds prepared his arrival making a palm tree "red carpet."
In the street crowds shouted "hosanna in the highest" but obviously the people in the temple were not prepared.
Tonight an annoying cough and ache of allergy Spring kept me and my son from a Palm Sunday worship concert. In the past we were given palms at the Catholic churches. Once I even ended up in the Vatican Square without any intention or knowing it was a holy day. But tonight I learned I can dedicate my own house.
We prepared our home with candles and loaded up the Bible app references to the day on my phone. My son and I sang along with every rendition of Hosanna on YouTube by a variety of Christian artists. Together we read the readings.
It reminded me how we are dancing on holy ground even though it is just our living room. Obtaining this house was truly a miracle in 2010. Immediately after I was handed the keys to the gift, my dear spiritual dad, a local Catholic Deacon and dearest mentoring friend, dedicated our home in the name of Jesus. Part of this writing is in memory of him who recently went to Heaven to sing Hosanna with the host of angels (another blog on dad's legacy coming soon)
We are also blessed to have a house that isn't full of stuff any robber would want. When Jesus gave us this house we left it free of materialistic clutter. Scripture is written on the walls. We don't even own a computer, Internet, cable, or any flat screen. The furniture is so minimal it would be so easy to move if God called us to do it again.
The Bible also tells us our body is a house of the Holy Spirit. That's a whole other writing on how to keep this dwelling place within in order.
Jesus is ready to receive us. This week of reminiscing on all He did for us in preparation of Easter as the Jewish faith He came from celebrates Passover has so much to offer on house cleaning.
We are ready for holy week, are you?
