Tables

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.- Mark 11:16-17On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus did more than just flip a few tables over, he turned the temple inside out.  He saw the injustice, the financial corruption and the racism and acted so that excluded are the included and the valueless are the invaluable. Here what Jesus is showing us is that prayer apart from justice is incomplete and that his justice was fuelled by a compassion that was forged in prayer. To follow Jesus. To embody our prayers. To work for justice, is to walk that knife edge between the world and religion.  How do we do that?  It is the default setting of humans to be drawn to sameness. But if not held in check this default drives tribalism and polarisation and even tells us that difference is a threat, something to be afraid of. We can get comfortable in church. How do we go into the world and to a people who think “how things are” is life without God and present a better vision of meaning and purpose? How do we persuade them to put their lot in with the most beautiful man in history?  This is what I am grappling with for my community and my friends as I embody my grief, hold on to my prayers and then step into fun and hosting, inviting them around my table. In our communities and friendships and workplaces there are going to be areas of hurt, brokenness, suffering, maybe even death.These are places where, as followers of Jesus, we might find ourselves being called to go and suffer alongside the grieving rather than remaining comfortable rather than staying only where the fun is at. These are places where we might be called to go and pray. And then look at how we can embody our prayers and partner with Jesus to bring healing and bring justice.