22nd Day of Lent

In Mark chapter 11 we read another version of Jesus “cleansing’ the temple:
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day …on reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Here we see that Jesus’ anger was not out of control. He took the time to look at the situation in the temple in the evening, went away and then came back to respond the next day. This was mindful, centered, creative passion at work. Jesus did not just lash out, but nor did he hold back, even though he was aware that his actions would cause not only trouble but sufficient reaction to galvanize the plot to kill him.

When we think of what makes us angry, what stirs our deepest passions, we can often resort to our default of either lashing out in a destructive way or holding back because we fear the consequences. These consequences could be the negative response of someone else or even the pain of having to work through the messiness that ensues.

Spend a moment thinking about any way in which you hold back your passions and emotions, especially anger. Now imagine what it might look like to express that emotion (most probably to another person or people) in a mindful, centered, creative way. What creative opportunities might this open up for you? What creative opportunities might this open up for the person? What would be the consequence of expressing nothing? Which course of action seems most like Jesus?

Spend a moment in silence to discern what action (if any) Jesus would encourage you to take.

Oh God, help me in all my own brokenness and frailty, to be a source of healing in this world. Set me free so that my passion, like yours, might be a source of beautiful creation and love.
Amen