The verse that stands out for me in this Sunday's gospel reading is a quote from the psalms that is applied to Jesus after he chases the money-changers out of the temple. His disciples watch his anger and they quote Psalm 69:9 "Zeal (or passion) for your house consumes me".
Does passion for God's house consume you and me? I have seen people get very passionate over the years when it comes to the furnishings of the church building - we can get so attached to how things are in this space that we love, and changing anything can cause a surprisingly strong reaction! Conventional wisdom says that if a minister wants to move the piano to the other side of the sanctuary, the way to do it is very slowly - a couple of inches a week :)
But Jesus is not especially concerned with the arrangement of furniture in the temple. He is partly concerned about injustice (poor people are being hindered from having access to God in worship through the practices of the coin-changers) and I think he is also deeply concerned that the people have forgotten why they are there. They are there to come into the presence of God and worship - to encounter the living God, not to tick all sorts of religious boxes!
So perhaps for you and me this week, zeal for God's house has to do with honouring this sacred time by preparing (maybe arriving a little early and sitting prayerfully in the sanctuary) by coming expectantly (really believing that we will encounter the God who has called us here), and by worshipping extravagantly (giving the very best of ourselves to this glorious God in worship). May God bless you as you join us in worship this weekend!
Does passion for God's house consume you and me? I have seen people get very passionate over the years when it comes to the furnishings of the church building - we can get so attached to how things are in this space that we love, and changing anything can cause a surprisingly strong reaction! Conventional wisdom says that if a minister wants to move the piano to the other side of the sanctuary, the way to do it is very slowly - a couple of inches a week :)
But Jesus is not especially concerned with the arrangement of furniture in the temple. He is partly concerned about injustice (poor people are being hindered from having access to God in worship through the practices of the coin-changers) and I think he is also deeply concerned that the people have forgotten why they are there. They are there to come into the presence of God and worship - to encounter the living God, not to tick all sorts of religious boxes!
So perhaps for you and me this week, zeal for God's house has to do with honouring this sacred time by preparing (maybe arriving a little early and sitting prayerfully in the sanctuary) by coming expectantly (really believing that we will encounter the God who has called us here), and by worshipping extravagantly (giving the very best of ourselves to this glorious God in worship). May God bless you as you join us in worship this weekend!