The crowds have dispersed,

well as much as they can in the packed city,

people are worrying about purchasing lambs,

the Passover must be observed,

the sacrifice must be suitable,

there is only one way to guarantee this,

you’re going to have to deal with the money changers,

and pay the over inflated prices,

you grumble about it every year,

but this year you can ill afford it,

the catch hasn’t been good,

your son has suffered an unexplained illness,

your resources are depleted,

we understand you today,

over inflated prices come in the form of energy bills,

and the powers that be,

like many in power,

see exploitation as their right….

into your scene comes Jesus,

he hates the exploitation of the masses,

the Temple taxes,

he sees the injustice,

and he is enraged,

that’s right, enraged, gentle Jesus meek and mild,

so he makes a whip of cords, and drives the money changers out,

drives the sellers out,

turning over tables, shouting

“My Fathers house is a house of prayer”,

he calls them robbers and thieves…

+

There is another story circulating about him,

how he allowed that woman, that prostitute

to anoint his feet, and wipe them with her hair,

such waste, surely the perfume should have been sold,

the money given to the poor he is now defending….

what hypocrisy is this?

He has an answer, the poor will always be with you….

+

The poor will always be with you, well that’s probably true,

Maybe the anointing was her sacrifice,

he seemed to receive it as such,

no money changers, no Temple tax involved…

+

The poor you will always have with you,

The exploiters too, taxes , inflation, the choice between heating and eating….

where are the crowds crying no?

Are we to be your hands, your feet, your voice today Jesus?

Teach us how to turn tables with holy justice…