Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers." (21: 12,13).
So how is the Gospel that comes from today's Daily Office appropriate for today? I am sure it is a bit weird to be reading about God's house being a "den or robbers" and then see a picture of us marching in Pride. If you read the Bible as those who practice literalism do, you might see this as an oxymoron. But if we read the Bible from an attitude of compassion, love with lots of possibilities as to what it could be saying to us, then you can see how the Gospel and the Pride picture might make sense.
When Jesus entered the area where the money changers and all of the marketing was going on, he found himself looking at what had become of God's house. Instead of being a house of prayer that was welcoming for all, it became a place where if you had money to buy and make raw deals you could go there and do your thing. If you were so unfortunate to not do those things, then God's house of prayer was not the place for you.. The worship of God had become a matter of money and standards that had been laid out as part of a conspiracy against a group of people who were unacceptable to the religious authorities.
This past weekend at Twin Cities Pride we had visitors who wanted to use the event to try to convert LGBT people. We had people giving out Bibles, and trying to preach against our equal rights. Mostly we had preachers saying that we "were an abomination." One sign even said: 'You are deceiving and you are being deceived." The only way to know God from their point of view is to be straight or be converted from being LGBT to being exactly as they thought we should be. The response of those who had the courage to do so was awesome. While the preachers stood with their God hating gay people signs, individuals with their own signs saying: "Standing on the Side of Love" and one individual saying; "I am a gay man, and God loves me as I am!" As a result, very few people paid any attention to them. I think we can very easily see those who are standing on the side of love, recognizing that God loves all of us, Lesbian, Gay, Straight, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning could be seen as Jesus chasing the money changers out letting every one know that love is the means by which God shows God's self, not the Bible used as a head injuring instrument.
God's house is a place of prayer. It is a place where all who are battered by society and the evils of a world that are all too cruel are welcomed to find God's peace and pray. It is a place where all people should be given the chance to come and be touched by God's healing love and presence. The house of God is where we hear Scripture, we meditate on how God wants to transform us so that we can help transform society. In the house of God all are welcome to the Table where we are fed by the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and go forth as members of Christ's Holy Body, the Church. The house of God, that place of prayer, is a place that does not rob any group of people their human dignity or seek to change them into someone that they are not.to. The house of God is a place where anyone can find healing, wholeness and peace to struggle with their own issues without someone "programming" their minds or behaviors. The house of God is not a place to use the Bible as a weapon, but where the Bible should lead us as to how to understand what our hearts may be telling us about our relationship with the God and our neighbor.
May our homes and our hearts be a house of God. May we be places where the Holy Spirit comes to deliver her message of Gods unconditional and all inclusive loves. Let our hearts be a place where God houses not only our own souls, but that special place of love for someone else who is so special to us that she or he reminds us of the extravagant love, acceptance and mercy of God.
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 8, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).
Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those Who Live Alone, Book of Common Prayer, Page 829).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, Page 833).
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