From the Rector’s Study

Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple. Why did he do that? The money changers had set up barriers for people coming to the temple. The money changer aspect is fairly obvious for us today because charging a price for or the exchange rate would be in favour of the money changers making money on the exchange. But why the sheep, cattle, and doves?

“Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” And: losing and gaining our lives. Gaining the whole world and forfeiting our lives. I cannot help thinking this relates to control. That we can only have partial control of our lives. We are co-creators with God who thus takes the major role.

The sequence of events may be significant and give us some insight into what is going on and for us to see the value. It begins with Jesus being baptized. An uplifting event, a great day. Then forty days in a row in the wilderness, then the bad news about John the Baptist being arrested.

As we think of this glorious mountain top experience for transfiguration, we have two comments in second Corinthians. The gospel is veiled, let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts

For most of our lives, we have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As its name suggests, it breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes our supply of fuel to boost our energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health.

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Knowledge doesn’t satisfy; it’s never enough. I cannot help thinking that love and wisdom are similar. Maybe love can feel like enough, but also the comment is that there must be more to a relationship than love, but wisdom can give satisfaction with enough and the not knowing.

When we were little kids we all played the game,”Follow the Leader.” The rules were very simple. A leader was chosen and everyone else followed him or her wherever they were led and mimicked the leader’s actions – skip, jump, turn in circles, somersault, crab walk, and so on. If any player messed up or refused to follow the leader’s instructions they were out.

Paul says in Corinthians today, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. And Jesus in John’s Gospel today, follow me and you will see greater things than these.

You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased. This seems to be about Jesus alone but the message for us has value if we see ourselves as the recipients of this blessing as well. Thus, the essence of our relationship is one of love and value.