Love in Action - August 8

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 87, 90; PM Psalm 136; Judges 9:22-25,50-57; Acts 4:32-5:11; John 2:13-25

“He was speaking of the temple of his body.” — John 2:21

Since the recent death of the civil rights icon and congressman, John Lewis, I’ve been reviewing his life and career, and the thing that continues to be highlighted is the “Good Trouble” he promoted and invested himself. He was raised in a very poor family and taught as a young child in a black body to stay out of the way, to stay out of trouble. But at the age of 15 years old, Lewis heard about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., and he became inspired to do the opposite – to use his education, skills, and resources to get IN the way and to make GOOD trouble. Lewis describes “Good Trouble” as love in action. Guided by the power of love, he devoted his life to making our country a better place for all people, a place where no one will be left out or left behind. I can’t help but connect Lewis’ concept of love in action with Jesus’ life and ministry, and I wonder if this tricky passage from today’s gospel reading could have been an influence for Lewis.

The temple is the most central and sacred place where the people gather in Jerusalem, especially at the time of the annual Passover festivals, but the Roman Empire is the ruling force of the day. I often say that Jesus turns things upside down as he works in contrast to the empire, but in terms of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus is turning everything right side up. Jesus flips the tables because he knows what’s in their hearts and what’s happening in the marketplace at the temple is wrong. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they don’t realize what they’re doing is wrong, maybe they’re just doing the best they can, or maybe they’re afraid that by not doing it they will be making trouble. But Jesus disrupts the status quo and calls out the money changers, overturns the tables, and scatters the animals because he’s trying to lead them in the way of Love - not fear, power, or complicity, but radical love.

While everyone is focused on the physical structure in Jerusalem, Jesus speaks of his own body as the temple that will be raised again in three days after its destruction. He’s referring to his life, death, and resurrection. Having the perspective of hindsight, we can more easily understand that Jesus IS the temple in the Kingdom of God because Jesus embodies love in action to bring about the kingdom with his entire ministry. While this episode illustrates an unusual show of emotion and behavior by Jesus, it is, nonetheless, love in action. Jesus invites us to be bold and courageous about (metaphorically) turning tables – that is, by standing up and speaking out against anything that works against the Kingdom of Heaven.

May we see and hear the world through God’s eyes and ears, may our hearts and minds be opened to truth and justice that needs our attention, and may the labor of our hands and feet by guided by love in action.

— Susan Oakes, Seminarian

Susan Oakes is a rising senior at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. This summer, she is serving as a seminarian intern at Saint Stephen's, her sponsoring parish for ordination.

Questions for Reflection:

Is there a modern-day Christ-like example in your life who embodies love in action? How do you show love in action and make the world a better place to live for everyone, including the “other”.

Challenge:

Ponder your own life and identify the Christ-like quality that you embody (or would like to embody) and will be remembered for.