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And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief
priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to
accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his
words. Luke 19:47–48
Jesus had just entered Jerusalem for the upcoming Feast of
Passover. He arrived in that holy city and then returned again the
next day and entered the Temple area. As He witnessed the
corruption of those selling animals for the Temple sacrifices,
Jesus responded with fervent preaching in an attempt to cleanse the
Temple from this corruption. He quoted the Prophet Isaiah and cried
out, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but
you have made it a den of thieves.” Luke’s Gospel points out
the reaction of the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of
the people. They were “seeking to put him to death.” However, as
the Gospel further relates, “they could find no way to accomplish
their purpose because all the people were hanging on his
words.”
It’s important to consider this passage within its context. The
words that Jesus spoke were words that sought to cleanse the Temple
of corruption. With the approval of the temple priests, who
benefitted from the temple tax, there were many people who were
using the practice of divine worship to make a profit for selfish
gain, turning the Temple into a marketplace. Jesus could see this
clearly, and many of the people would have also sensed the
corruption of these practices. Though they needed to purchase
animals for the ritual sacrifices and Passover meal, many of them
were most likely disturbed by this abuse. Therefore, as Jesus spoke
with fervor and condemnation, it angered those who were responsible
for the corruption but left the people with consolation. Hence,
they were “hanging on his words.”
The Gospel is always consoling, and, for those who are open, it
leads them to hang on every word that is spoken. It refreshes and
invigorates, clarifies and motivates. Usually when we think of the
Gospel, we think of words that are gentle and inviting—words of
mercy to the sinner and compassion for those who are struggling.
But sometimes the pure Gospel message from our Lord fiercely
attacks sin and evil. And though this may be shocking to the evil
doers, to those with pure faith, these words also refresh and
strengthen.
Today, we need the full Gospel message. Many need to hear Jesus’
gentle invitation to conversion by which their heavy burdens are
lifted. But many others need to hear His firm words of
condemnation. And the Church as a whole needs both of these
messages to be proclaimed if we are to fully participate in the
apostolic ministry of our Lord. Only our Lord has the right to
condemn, chastise, and call others to repentance. But we are all
called to share in this mission of our Lord. And though we do not
have the right to judge the hearts of others, when we see objective
evil and disorder within our world and even within our Church, we
must cry out with our Lord, “My house shall be a house of
prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And when we do
hear the holy and inspired words of God’s messengers who boldly and
courageously proclaim the truth and call others to repentance, it
should inspire, invigorate and console us as we find ourselves
hanging on their every word.
Reflect, today, upon the Gospel messages that need to be preached
in our day and age that are both inspired by God and are also
fervently directed at corruption within the world and even within
our Church. Allow yourself to support such holy preaching and to be
inspired by it. Hang on these holy words of God’s prophets today.
As you do, God will protect them and inspire them to continue His
holy mission of purification.
My purifying Lord, the corruption within our world, and at times
even within our Church, requires Your holy preaching and purifying
action. Please send Your messengers to those in need so that all
may be cleansed as You cleansed the Temple. May I share in this
mission in the ways in which You call me, and may I always hang on
every word spoken from Your merciful and fervent heart of love.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: The Pharisees Question Jesus by James
Tissot, via Wikimedia Commons
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