John 2:16. “[Jesus] told those who were selling the doves,
‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!’”
What if this story of Jesus throwing around tables and chairs is not really about the animals, moneychangers, or anger? What if the animals and moneychangers who have taken over so much real estate in the temple are not the problem but rather symptoms of the problem? What if this gospel lesson from John isn’t about what is present in the temple but is deeply concerned with what is missing?
Jesus can see that the temple is filled with animals and moneychangers but is empty of life and soul. The people have lost their way and have forgotten that the temple is God’s house, that their bodies are God’s house, that creation is the God’s house, that the entire cosmos is God’s house. They have forgotten that the face of God is found in every direction.
When this kind of forgetting happens in our own hearts and minds, the temple of our lives become places of transaction rather than transformation, wholesale marketplaces rather than holy meeting places.
Jesus is driving out forgetfulness from our hearts—vivifying, ensouling, and humanizing the temple inside you and me.
*Originally written for and published by Forward Day by Day.
Interrupting the Silence 
“… vivifying, ensouling and humanizing the temple inside you and me.” This knowledge, thought, belief, experience, image…makes my heart sing. Three words that say it all.
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Singing hearts are good! I am glad the meditation helps your heart sing.
Peace be with you,
Mike+
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You have no idea the effect this has had on me today–a transformative, rather than transactional, effect that was greatly needed.
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“transformative, rather THAN transactional,” I should have said!!
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That’s really good. I am very glad and encouraged to hear that. Thank you.
God’s peace be with you,
Mike+
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Thank you so much. This has helped me to get to know myself more as a temple of God and the role I have as God’s vessel .
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Caleb, I’m so glad to hear that the meditation has offered you some new insights. Thank for letting me know.
God’s peace be with you,
Mike+
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This one seemed rather timely.
Sent from my iPad
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Dear Mike,
Greetings from India.
I am a great fan of you.
You are terrific.
Thank you very much for all your posts.
Stay blessed.
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Thank you for your greetings and kind words. I appreciate your reading my blog.
May God’s peace and blessing be upon you,
Mike+
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