In the Gospel reading from John 2, we see Jesus throwing the merchants out of the temple area. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with the folks who had approved all of this. They wanted Him killed.
Do you know why the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people wanted to have Jesus killed? Sure he was a rabble-rouser in their eyes, but it goes deeper than that. As we hear so often, “follow the money.” You see, these guys were getting kickbacks from all the money changers and folks selling things in the temple area. In essence, Jesus was cutting into their profits. He was bad for business.
For many years now, there have been many stories about financial "mismanagement" at the Vatican. The problem is that all these folks broke the First Commandment. Money had become their god. This is a trap that is easy to fall into. Let’s pray that if we fall into it, Jesus will shake us up as well.
Father, may we never let money become our god. May we always put you first in our lives, above all things. Amen.
0 comments