Who's the Boss?

This is the second Sunday in Lent, and our theme for Lent is “I Will: Living Our Baptismal Vows.” Today’s reading is Luke’s account of Jesus throwing the money lenders out of the temple, and then, later, the authorities questioning his authority to do such things as teaching and preaching. Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye, preaching today, says that Jesus was not against Judaism or temple worship at all, or against selling animals for sacrifices because many people who came to the temple had travelled very long distances and could not have brought the proper unblemished animals for sacrificing. What he was against were the sellers who took advantage and charged exorbitant prices. To critique something properly you must love it dearly, and that is what Jesus was doing. We, too, are called by our baptismal vows to accept the freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.