The Buyers and the Sellers....

I read something recently from a Rabbi who was commenting on sports in our culture. He started out by writing that when historians or sociologists look back at the the buildings that may remain from our era, the most impressive structures will be our sports arenas. The ruins of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome are either government buildings or temples to various gods or rulers whom they thought were gods. The middle ages had huge and glorious churches, basilicas, monasteries and temples like Chartres, St. Peter's and Hagia Sophia. We have Olympic stadiums, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and our own Yum Center, Keeneland and (co)Rupp(t) Arena.

Sports have become like a religion to many in our time, both in good ways and bad. The good is that sports can teach some very important spiritual and religious values. Team work, how to win and lose gracefully and humbly, how to channel one's enthusiasm and talent toward a goal, the importance of practice and training, and how to treat with respect both those who are team mates and those who are opponents are just a few of some very good ideals that religious folks could learn from the sports world and vice versa. Where sports and athletics get a bad rap are the actions of some fanatics and some losing focus that at the end of the day "it's only a game". In both sports and religion we always are encouraged to remember why we do what we do. "What is the priority?", is the question that all players and prayers; coaches and priests; fans and faithful have to constantly answer.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus comes to the Temple this weekend to show folks that that the focus of their religion has changed in the person of HIM. He chases out money changers and turns over tables of coins and doves. Jesus gets angry (yes, it's okay to get angry, even in Church)! He yells at the folks, accusing them of turning God's house into a din of thieves. Then He tells them the new priority. "Destroy this Temple, and I will rebuild it in three days!" He claims. Few got it then. Maybe none got it then. Two thousand years of hindsight and interpretation have helped us see that Jesus was putting the Temple worshipers on notice. Jesus is the new focus for their (and our) faith and life. Doves, coins, sheep, and bulls have no comparison to the sacrifice of the Son of God of Himself. Nor do our sacrifices of time, talent and treasure. Prayers of praise, thanksgiving, supplication, and forgiveness have only one new direction because of Him. All of the Gospel writers, but especially John, show us that Jesus is the only Lord worth living for and praying to.

So, we need to ask ourselves what our priorities are. Do we give to get a tax right off? Do we use our time, talent and treasure like a vote? Am I more generous with my stuff when I like music, the homilies, the ministries, or if I'm getting some other benefit? If the answer is "Yes!" to any of these, then who are we trying to serve here? AND this goes beyond churchy stuff. Is Christ the focus of everything in our lives? Is He the reason we work, play, live and love? If the answer is "No!" then it's time to upset a few tables in our own temples.

Lent is the time to clean house and fall in love again with the HIM again.

Peace,
me