--------------------------------
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. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11:15-18)
We can get very sloppy with our understanding of love. What better thing to skewer you with than "If you loved me, you wouldn't be short with me!" My expectation is that I can grate your nerves until the cows come home, and you'd better like it or I will charge you with the guilt-trip claim that you don't love me. Patriotism is a form of love and we find that people can questioned our love of country if we become impatient with injustice--even grueling social/economic injustice fostered upon children. In these cases, the greatest form of love is standing strong against callousness. The iconic example of such impatience is the moment Jesus lost patience at the temple when witnessing egregious effrontery to God Almighty.
Print Page
