Holy Monday

Matthew 21:12-46 (Focusing on Matthew 21:12-14)

Sometimes the word “shocking” is the only way to describe an action or event that changes the course of human history.  When these verses took place in real-time, the city of Jerusalem was in turmoil.  Even though the Palm Sunday parade was met with “Hosanna, hosanna, to the Son of David” by a cheering crowd of supporters, those in power were threatened and planning their next move.  The Sabbath morning arrived, with the normal hubbub of vendors gathered to sell animals for temple sacrifices and money changers.  Those who desired entrance to worship were able to buy their way inside, but those who were poor, blind or lame had to keep their distance.  Jesus, with the strength of a superhuman wrecking ball, blasts onto the scene “overturning the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves.” He  said to them,  “It is written,  ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a house of robbers.”

     In the midst of the hysteria, the blind, lame (and probably others who felt unwanted) seized their opportunity, came to him in the temple and he cured them.  Our Holy Week is hopefully one that will change the course of our history for the better.  We have been shocked that something as horrifying as a virus could threaten our way of life and our sacred practices of worship during this time.  Right now we are all forced to be on the outside and it doesn’t feel right. Perhaps this unparalleled time in our lives is when our human family can come together in heart, mind, and spirit to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead in our ordinary places of life at home and realize that He is surely with us. He makes us feel loved, accepted and wanted as His children with no strings attached. As our Lord cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, may we invite Him to cleanse and make us new people for the day we can rejoice and be together again.  Thanks be to God!

Patsy-Coe Densmore