In Mark 11 we see Jesus' temper. Frankly, I am surprised we don't see more of it. Surely Jesus had to be frustrated (often) with the lack of faith and trust he observed in the people.
Chapter 11 is the location in Mark of Jesus running the money changers out of the temple. His complaint is that they have made his Father's house into a house of trade. He condemns their failure to use God's house as it was intended to be used.
What is this intended use? Is our use in line with what Jesus would find acceptable.
We come to God's house to pray - surely this is okay with him. We come to God's house to sing - the praises of the faithful are said to rise all the way into the heavens. We come to God's house to make our offerings - to commit to God our hearts and our time and our treasurers. We come to God's house in order to learn - to integrate into our lives the wisdom which sustains the whole of creation.
We come to God's house.....
It is true that God is everywhere and we can be found by God by a mountain stream or in a study cubicle. But God has built a house in order that we might have a place to pray, to sing, to return our thanks and learn with others what it means to follow Christ. Jesus' complaint with us might have less to do with how we use God's house, but the place God's house has in our weekly routine. Yes, it is tough, when you are away in college, to feel at home in a strange "house." But those houses are made to feel like home by the One who meets us there and welcomes us in.
When I read Mark 11 I do not feel judged by Jesus' anger; I see in his anger his disappointment. He is disappointed when we fail to receive that which has been so freely offered to us. We have been invited into God's house!
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