A Poem a Sunday

Lent III – B

March 4, 2018

Saint John 2:13-25 – NRSV

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

A Poem a Sunday

Lent III - B

Edifice Complex

“If I had my way,

if I had my way

in this wicked world

I would tear this building down.”

[often credited to the folk/blues singer/songwriter "Reverend" Gary Davis;

Blind Willie Johnson also had a version of this song…it was popularized

in the 1960’s by Peter, Paul & Mary] https://youtu.be/TY-699M7j3g

The Divine untamed is dangerous

so we create dogma that domesticates

and take the Ark of the Covenant

and brick it in golden laden walls.

Every temple, every steeple,

every building dedicated for worship

becomes an icon

for the Divine Iconoclast.

Every kneeler, every padded pew,

every ornate altar that confines

the Divine will tumble, shatter, crumble;

unveiling the naked God on Golgotha.

May be reproduced with the following attribution:

Copyright 2018 Rev. Kenn Storck @ A Poem a Sunday

pastorkennsstudy.blogspot.com

contact: kennstorck@gmail.com