Making Space for the Excluded

    Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, March 11, 2025

The week of the first Sunday in Lent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

13The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!’ 17His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 952)

AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48   

Deut. 9:4-12; Heb. 3:1-11; John 2:13-22

David’s Reflections

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in an interview in 2004, commented on the inclusive nature of Anglicanism.:

Anglicans must keep in mind that the chief characteristic of Anglicanism is that it is all inclusive.  It is especially important for Anglicans to promote this because the world finds it impossible to deal with diversity.  . . . Everyone is an insider, there are no outsiders, whatever their beliefs whatever their colour, gender, or sexuality.  We all disagree on many things, but those that I disagree with are still my brothers, are still my sisters. That is the gift that Anglicans should be giving to the world. *

Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple expressed his concern for those excluded and exploited by the religious system. It took place in the outer court, the Court of the Gentiles.  NonJews could enter that court for worship but could go no farther inside the Temple complex.  They were excluded by a shoulder-high wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the inner courts.

The Temple authorities carried on at least two forms of commerce in that court area.  The Temple tax required of all Jewish males could only be remitted in local coinage, which meant pilgrims were required to exchange coins bearing images of rulers for a fee.  Also, sacrificial animals were available for purchase in that same area. A nonJew attempting to worship there had to contend not only with the distance from the sacrificial cult in the inner court areas but also the commercial distractions in the Court of the Gentiles.

Jesus would not have been able to cleanse the entire court area, an area larger than Times Square or a football field.  More than likely, he picked a region within the court for this prophetic act.  What was he saying by doing this?  His zeal expressed itself against the inequities that took advantage of pilgrims and the poor.  He also was directly challenging the authority of the Temple leadership.  And, he was proclaiming by action his prophetic judgment against the commercialization of a space reserved for the worship of nonJews.. In Mark’s version of the story, he quoted from Jeremiah, a staunch critic of the Temple system (Jeremiah 7; 21) and from Isaiah (Mark 11:17).

Tutu reminds us of that subtle danger of the insider-outsider dynamic.  We can unwittingly post “keep out” signs in our faith communities.  For nonJews the wall of separation and commerce in their worship space were “keep out” signs.  For the hearing impaired, the lack of sound equipment is a “keep out.”  For parents, inadequate childcare or children’s education is a “keep out.”  For those unfamiliar with Episcopal worship practices and music, worship geared only for insiders is a “keep out.”  For women, lack of full inclusion including ordination is a “keep out.”  For gays, lesbians and the transgendered, homophobic rhetoric is a “keep out.”  For the poor, imposing buildings and costly apparel are “keep outs.” For those of other language groups, no worship in their language or translation is a “keep out.” For those of one political orientation, rhetoric favoring another political orientation is a “keep  out.”

All churches, both new and old, must constantly check out their accessibility, keeping a firm eye for barriers, often unwittingly kept in place, that limit the access and full inclusion of all persons into the life and worship of the congregation. And we can accept the challenge of getting outside the walls for worship, social events, and ministries that diminish the boundaries of our cloistered spaces.

* Desmond Tutu in an interview reported in ACNS 3789, 27 FEB 2004

Collect of the Day,  Lent 1

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 217)

Tuesday in the First Week of Lent

Grant to your people, Lord, grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only true God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday EucharisticPropers, p. 18)

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 99)

For Young Persons

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 829)

A Prayer for Light

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Gospel, John 2:13-22

13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ 17His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ 18The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ 19Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer