Erl Purnell Sermon

Monday of Holy Week ~ April 2, 2007 ~ Homily notes by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell for Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT

Isaiah 42.1-9; Psalm 36.5-10; Hebrews 11.39-12.3; Mark 11.12-19

Jesus’ triumphal Sunday entry into Jerusalem is in stark contrast to Pilate entering from the west. It is actually an anti-imperial act of mockery.

Jesus returns on Monday. Curses the fig tree. There could never have been figs on that fig tree (wrong time of year). Cursing the fig tree symbolically reflects cursing the improper use of the Temple. Withering of the fig tree expresses the destruction of the Temple.

Temple is the place of sacrifice where God invites the offender to a sacrificial meal. It’s an ancient tradition and supposedly on God’s terms.

In Jesus’ day, Temple authorities & the Roman Governor are in cahoots … in the best interest of each. The Governor permits Jewish traditions; the Temple priests keep the Jews in line and fill the Temple coffers. Both Rome and the Temple elite represent a synergistic domination system of the common people. Justice is sacrificed for control & profit.

In Jeremiah’s day, Jeremiah says that worship in the Temple has replaced divine justice. He decries on God’s behalf, “Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers…” (Jeremiah 7.11)

Jesus enters the Temple and sees money changers & animal vendors. The Temple is not a place of justice, but a place of in-justice. Jesus wreaks havoc.

Jesus’ action symbolically shuts down Temple activities. Contrary to traditional teaching, Jesus is not “cleansing” the Temple, but symbolically destroying it as echoed by the fig tree’s destruction.

Jesus teaches that prayer and sacrifice are good, but not when they are a substitute for justice. When that happens, even God rejects God’s Temple!

Jesus’ symbolic destruction of the Temple symbolically fulfills Jeremiah’s prophetic threat that the Temple would be destroyed if worship became more important than God’s justice.

The domination system of the Romans and the Jewish authorities is the injustice Jesus confronts. His challenge to both is his downfall.

Amen.