Lent
March 23, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 11:1-11
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. –Mark 11:8-11
What was Jesus looking for when he entered the temple? What about that building was important to him? What upset him? Did he go to worship and became disgusted at all the money changers and merchants in the courtyard? Did he recall that first visit when he was twelve? Did he wonder why many followed him, but the religious leaders were threatened by him?
There is something special about a house of worship. I attend a church now with a simple but beautiful sanctuary with wonderful wood all around. I love wood. It feels sacred walking in the door. I particularly like to sit in one of the pews and listen to the organ or piano being played. I experienced that same sacredness when I was a child and entered the little one-room schoolhouse which also served as a church on Sunday. Its school use was ended years before but until I was five it was my church where I learned Jesus Loves Me and how to Let My Little Light Shine.
Of course, it is not the building. Houses of worship allow us to automatically acknowledge the presence of God who is always with us but at times gets pushed to the corners of our minds and lives. That is why it is so important that we gather together at houses of worship to help us get God properly aligned in our lives. When we are aligned with God, our lives are aligned with all other aspects.
My sense is that Jesus was always aligned with God but even with that being so in times like he was facing it surely had to help strengthen him to enter the house of God one more time understanding that humans are fragile and much needed to be accomplished to help God’s children fully align with God.
Prayer: God who is always present with us, thank you for understanding us when our frailties overcome us, and we lose sight of your constant presence. I was and still am glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord*. Amen
*Derived from Psalm 12223