Semana Santa: Jesus in the Temple

I've just checked the lectionary and I think I may be a little out of step, but I'm sticking with Mark's order of events and reading today Mark 11.12-19, his account of Jesus in the Temple.

I've had a busy day today, spending the morning in a 'queuing loop' down at the national registration offices, and the afternoon finishing off a paper for my interpretation/ philosophy class this evening.

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those where were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

It's the man on the subway this morning who comes to mind reading that last line. He carried himself along the floor, using his hands and part of one leg to move through the carriage asking for change. Jesus' anger was at the exploitation of the poor and the central place making money occupies in our lives. Instead of prayer, he found theft.

Give rest to the weary,
visit the sick,
support the poor:
for this also is prayer.

(Aphrahat, quoted in daily lent suggestions, ship-of-fools.com)