If you say to this mountain

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

Then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read,

'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have perfected praise'? "

Then he left them and went out of that city to Bethany, and he lodged there.

Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever thing you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

- Matthew 21:12-22

In the reading of Saturday (see Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!) we learned of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and how for the Church it also symbolizes another celestial event. We learned more about the "double-vision," so to speak, in Matthew's gospel, and how in that case, we see these events as occurring at the same time - or perhaps simultaneously but in different types of time: one an earthly event in the time frame that we experience in our earthly lives, the other a celestial event in a "heavenly time," if you will - in eternal time; it is an "eternal present," which gives life to so much of what we read so that it is "with us" although we read of what happened long ago. Today we read about Jesus' first acts in Jerusalem.

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " My study bible notes on this part of the reading: "Those who bought and sold in the temple traded in animals used for sacrifices. The money changers were needed to provide currency acceptable to the temple, because Roman coins bearing the head of Caesar were considered defiling. When Jesus sees that worship has become commercialized, he acts against the abuses, boldly overturning the tables and casting the tradesmen out. The cleansing of the temple is seen as an image of the cleansing of our souls." Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. I like it that my study bible likens this cleansing of the temple (a messianic act) with the cleansing of our souls. We all have our own cleansing to do! I think this is perhaps the most important part of our prayer lives, but we call on the Spirit to guide us in this - it is not of our own making to decide how or what we need to change. So our relationship to the Lord is also primary in this. But what we also see is Jesus' first act that challenges the authorities - corruption hurts everyone, and takes away from the children the spiritual food that they are there for. In Saturday's commentary, we wrote about the scandals that keep people away from the Church. Jesus always emphasized the need for a watchful eye even on those who would come in his name - and his witness against corruption and predatory practices of those who would be his followers remains an essential part of his teaching. We get that example especially in this first act in Jerusalem.

Then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'? " Then he left them and went out of that city to Bethany, and he lodged there. The healing of the blind and lame is also a messianic act, but more than that, it is coupled here with the cleansing of the temple. This furthers our understanding of the cleansing of our souls and its function: it is so that we practice repentance for salvation, for healing. Whether we are speaking of corruption on any level (even a personal one) or the need for change within ourselves - to discard something necessary for us to let go of - all is in the service of healing, which is synonymous with salvation. So, Jesus' cleansing of the temple is preparation for healing and restoration of health on all levels. This is also what we must keep in mind when we pray, and we allow Spirit to be at work in ourselves as well. The leadership of the temple is outraged not only at the act of healing, but of the recognition in the "children" who call Jesus "the Son of David." We recall Jesus' teaching on the "little ones" of the Church, and on the children sent to him for his blessing, of whom he said, "of such is the kingdom of heaven." He has also taught in recent readings that we should become like little children, in the sense that they are humble: "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." For references to the quotation see Psalm 8:2 and also Jesus' words in Matthew 11:25. 26.

Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. My study bible says, "The fig tree, symbol of prosperity and peace, withers because of its fruitlessness. This is a prophetic act, for after three years of preaching, teaching and healing, the Jews are destitute of spiritual fruit; therefore, he withers them with his reproach. He curses the tree to warn of the curse on those who will crucify him. He submits himself willingly to the Cross; he is the Suffering Servant who yields to their torture." The fig tree, I have read elsewhere, is also a symbol of Israel - "the people of God." So, the coupling of this act with the messianic acts in the temple (the cleansing and healing) is a comment on the rejection by the leadership. They are concerned only with their own authority and power, and cannot read the signs of the times.

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever thing you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." My study bible notes on these verses: "Jesus does not expect his disciples literally to move mountains, but this extravagant image accurately depicts the astonishing power of undoubting faith." What I take away from these passages, coupled all together, is a message on the pre-eminence of faith and its nature. What is holiness and how do we see it? Certainly the gospels - and in particular, Matthew's gospel which concerns itself with a Jewish audience and perspective - teach us that this leadership has been prepared for the event of the Messiah. They are the ones who know the Scriptures, are experts in the Law and the interpretation of the writings of the prophets. We are given to understand that this leadership (in general, not as a whole, for we are also told there are those among the leadership who are Jesus' followers) has not done its duty to those they are to lead, and they have failed to embrace what is in their midst - that which they should know. They do not have the humility "as a little child" to receive what is actually in their presence, and they have failed "the children" they are supposed to lead in spiritual teaching.

How do we read this today? Are there ways in which our own churches have let us down? Do we also suffer from corruption - or those concerned with supporting themselves rather than teaching and leading the children? Can we understand the holy in our midst - whether or not it inconveniences us?: I have a feeling that the holy is always that which seeks for us to open up our eyes and learn new things, to take us forward, and this can be (or feel like) a painful experience. In the teachings in these gospels, we can see the position of the leadership. They have set things their way. They are asked to change. Could we also respond with a "yes," with faith? Can we open up our eyes where we need to? Are we willing to be cleansed - on any level, be it corporate or personal? Are we ready to be healed? As a doctor also needs to cleanse what ails us before we can heal, so the Lord seeks to do the same. Are we ready for the presence of the holy - and its effects - in our lives? Are we ready for this kind of faith?