Faithful Action

 

I wrote this on January 27th the Saturday after the spire collapsed.  Like all of us here today, we have strong feeling for the building we lost at 66 Union St.  I remember fondly coming in the back door, walking up the steps and entering that beautiful sanctuary.  The building committee for the Fellowship Hall did a great job separating the secular meeting space from the worship space.  Kent was on that Building Committee.

 

But when I think about 66 Union St it is not the building that brings back the happiest memories.  It is remembering Dick Faulkner making sure I knew how to start the acolytes, it is Barabara Jones explaining to me how to cut vegetables to Helen Daughlin's strict standards, it is Don Janse and the choir, Deb Fountanata singing Oh Holy Night and her hugs, serving eggs at Kent's Breakfasts, Dwight McDonald carving turkeys for our Thanksgiving dinners and Sara's book studies.  It is the people and the service to each other and others that I remember most fondly not the building.

      

In This message in John, Jesus enters the temple and encounters the vendors in the court selling stuff to people in the Temple.   They are making money selling animals to be used by "worshipers" in the Temple.  Jesus appears to challenge the need for rituals and highlights the importance of faithful service.  But remember, Jesus himself gave us several important rituals we still practice today.  Cathy has spoken to us about the importance of listening to the words we recite in the Lord's Prayer.  We will be doing that again shortly and have a chance to reflect on them again.  She will also be leading us in Communion.  Another ritual Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper to remember him by. SO Jesus does not dislike rituals, he is angry at the vendors profiting on people worshiping God. 

  

We learn in this passage that it took 46 years to build this great structure where the people can gather and pray.  This temple is their central place of worship and religious activity.  But what does Jesus find.  He finds animals being sold for sacrifices; money being traded.  The court is being used for vendors to make a profit not for prayer or contemplation.  What does this have to do with faithful worship of God.  Well we see Jesus respond with pretty strong anger.  He drives out the animals, has the doves released and over turns the money changers tables.  Obviously challenging the religious establishment.  Jesus says: "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"  It seems to me that he is rejecting vendors profiting from individuals faith and instead calling for genuine faithful service.  Remember we are told this happened on the Sunday before Passover.  Jesus will be crucified one week later. 

 

Jesus goes on to make an interesting challenge to the religious establishment saying, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up."  Scholars tell us he is foreshadowing his crucifixion and resurrection.  Is this Jesus' preparing his followers and us for what is coming very shortly.  Probably because I believe Jesus knew what was lying ahead.  But I think he is reminding us that a relationship with God is more important than place.  

 

How do we relate this passage to our lives today.  I think it might be telling us that our relationship with God should never be replaced by stuff or place.  Our worship should be rooted in love, devotion and meaningful contemplation of Jesus's message and God's call.  It should not be rooted in stuff and place. Just as Jesus spoke about destroying the temple and not turning God's house into a market, I think we are called to allow God into our hearts and not give in to being tied to place.  We recall Jesus' words in Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."  

   

I think of all the ways this congregation has spread God's love to our communities and others.   

In this passage Jesus challenges the people to have faithful devotion to God and God's message. We are reminded that worship and service from the heart with a devotion to God is more important than material goods and place. As we contemplate this passage let us continue to strive for a relationship with God and service to God.   

 

I will close with a poem from J. Phillip Newell's book for prayers entitled "Celtic 

Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer".  This is a Saturday morning prayer.

..... 

 

Thank you for listening.