Jesus in the “Marketplace”--Jan. 18, 2020

How manifold are your works, O God;

the earth is full of your creatures;

in  wisdom you have made them all.

But we have corrupted creation;

we have filled the earth with violence.

If Jesus was angry at those who

turned your house into a marketplace,

what will he say about us who,

in our greed for more marketplace,

are spoiling your good earth?

To you we must render an account—

Lord, have mercy,

and help us to mend our ways.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98

Gen. 6:9-22

Heb. 4:1-13

John 2:13-22

Selected Verses

Ps. 104:24

O LORD, how manifold are your works!
          In wisdom you have made them all;
          the earth is full of your creatures.

Gen. 6:11

Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.

Heb. 4:13

And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

John 2:16

[Jesus] told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here!  Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!”