Holy Week, Mon.-Wed.

Mon. – Mark 11:12-25
Tue. – Mark 11:27-33
Wed. – Mark 12:1-11

In the days leading up to his Passion, the Daily Office takes us through some of the opposition to Jesus. If we're going to walk with Jesus toward His, and our resurrection; then we need to walk with Jesus toward His, and our cross. And that means facing the enemies of Christ, then and now.

In clearing the Temple of those animals used for sacrifices, Jesus rendered the Temple useless for that day. Of course the sacrifices continued the next day. But Jesus had made his point. The Temple in Jerusalem was not the only place where one could meet God and find forgiveness of sin. In the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies, that place where God had his dwelling on Earth. It was "set apart," which is the literal meaning of "holy." But Jesus made it clear that wherever people encountered him was the Holy of Holies. I don't think Jesus had a problem with "set apart" places for worship. What he does have a problem with is when we think that Jesus is only in those special places, and when we hoard our divine treasure for ourselves. God gives himself away to the world, and so must we.

I have been "ordained," that is, "appointed" to the office of priest in the Church. I've been given a share of authority in the apostolic ministry of Jesus Christ that has descended through those who have been appointed as Bishops. But we have no authority over the Holy Spirit, who blows where it will. Those who question Jesus's authority are too insecure about their own.

The wicked tenants forgot that everything they had was a gift, and what they had was to be given just as freely as they had been given too. Again, they hoarded. Again, they controlled. Again, they limited the access to their treasure. How have we hoarded? How have we controlled? How have we limited the access? And most "crucially" (from the Latin for "cross"), are we prepared for the opposition that will ensue when we stop hoarding, stop controlling, stop limiting?