Jesus went to the temple to find a house of prayer; instead he found greed and corruption. His reaction was swift and clear. Animals were driven out, people rebuked and tables overturned. I have serious doubts that it all came to an end. I doubt that they left and never came back or took their business elsewhere. Instead of repenting they questioned his authority, the age old reaction of shooting the messenger.
I wonder how Jesus would feel walking into a US institutional church today? Would he find a house of prayer or house of greed? Would he be able to walk through the parking lot with the new cars and feel OK when he got inside to a building devoid of the poor? Would he rebuke us for our budgets that spend vast sums on self rather than the community? Would he be upset? How would we react to him? How do we react to any messenger that points this out?
Recently I talked with two missionaries that simply said, "I hate church." They clarified that they love the church that Jesus established but are incredibly frustrated with the US expression of that. Their church meets in a rented area of the mall; it is accessible by bus from anywhere in town so that the poor can participate. They have found a way to pursue Jesus' kingdom here on earth and stay faithful to church without letting their frustrations with human adulteration drive them away. And I think that is exactly what Jesus did. His frustration with human error did not cause him to stop going to the temple, quit being a Jew or give up on the people around him.
May we follow his example even in handling frustrations.
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