Easter

Holy Monday Housecleaning

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And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17 ESV

Some of us get the idea that Jesus waltzed through His ministry smiling, blessing children, and holding lambs in His arms. But on Monday of Holy Week; the same Jesus who had forgiven the woman caught in adultery and sat down to dinner with sinners, became angry when He went to the temple to pray. Instead of a smiling Jesus, just meekly entering, an angry Messiah showed up who drove out the buyers and sellers shouting, “Is it not written My House shall be called a house of prayer?” Now the case could be made that Jesus was upset about the physical location where these vendors were set up. But when Jesus used the word “House” it didn’t mean just a building, it meant household (as in a family). In other words, the place where God’s family meets on earth should be primarily about coming together to pray.

Now, it is easy for us to criticize those temple vendors, but are we really any different? Do we sometimes maneuver our way into desirable positions in church in order to take an unfair advantage of others? While special events are great and fellowship and laughter in the church coffee area matters; can we really say with all honesty that prayer is the main thing that happens at our meetings? Also, notice that Jesus went on to say that His family was supposed to be for all the nations. Are all nations showing up at our place of worship? Jesus wants to clean His house today just as He did back then of anything that keeps us apart. Then when we all come together for prayer, together we can truly become the Household of God and His family indeed!

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Morning on the Back Porch

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Dawn would be too nice of a description for the gray morning light gradually brightening today’s cloudy sky. But one dove welcomes our morning, sunny or not, with her gentle cooing. Then a mockingbird wipes sleep from his eyes and begins running through his seemingly limitless repertoire of borrowed songs. Not to be outdone one far less glamorous crow, perches on the crown of our roof and loudly proclaims that morning is here: it’s time to wake up and get going for the day! All these members of God’s choir know something about rejoicing in the moment that I too easily forget.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night, Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV

I confess that with the multiplying of aches and pains, the complications of family issues and the sadness of unfulfilled dreams, that mornings often come with their own chilly spiritual fog. But God has not left Himself without a witness, and when I sit quietly and listen, He sends messengers to wake my heart up again and hope in Him. In the words of the carol, by Longfellow:

“Then pealed the bells
More rich and deep
God is not dead nor doth He sleep,”
Christmas Bells

There is a hope we may find far better than doves, mockingbirds, and crows. A song deeper still than church bells and a dawn that breaks behind any gray sky, because though the darkness of the cross lies ahead, Easter is coming. Jesus watches us through our night seasons, and the depth of His love brightens our grayest morning and shines through even our darkest night!

High as the Heavens Love

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 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him – But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 103:11; 17 ESV

During Lent, many of us carefully consider what things we are willing to give up. But maybe we ought to think instead about what new thing we will dare to do for Jesus. While our love is defined by things like a ring, a promise of a gift of flowers, God’s love stretches far beyond our horizon. We often sing about how God loves us – no matter what we have done. But this love of His is also eternal and will extend after we are gone to our children, grandchildren, neighbors and even our enemies. God’s love is more than just passionate emotion; it is dynamic world changing power. God’s love stirs everything and everyone it touches into action. God’s love forms planets and feeds the hungry. The love of Jesus transforms water into wine and murderers of Christians, like the Apostle Paul into messengers and martyrs for the faith. So why not ask today how in some small way, can we reflect this “High as the Heavens are above the earth,” love of Jesus Christ? How can we show to others God’s everlasting love that was given at the cross and in the joy of Easter morning, when He rose from the dead?

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