Lent 3, 2024
The Old Testament lesson and the Gospel today share a common theme—What is Right and What is Wrong.
That’s what we need to ponder—you and I—“What is Right and What is Wrong.”
In Exodus, God speaks to Moses on the mountain and gives him what has been called The Ten Commandments.
They are pretty straight-forward and easy to use for what is right and what is wrong.
Have no other gods/make no idols/do not use God’s name in vain/keep the sabbath/honor your parents/don’t murder/don’t commit adultery/don’t steal/don’t lie about your neighbor/don’t covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Like I said: straight forward and easy to understand.
But not do easy to do.
For example, there are 3 or 4 cars and trucks in the parking lot out there that I would like to have as my own. I covet them.
And that’s just one example!
While what God gave Moses about right and wrong was in words, in John’s gospel, Jesus does right and wrong in action. And pretty brutal action….
He took a whip and drove out those who were selling cattle, sheep and doves in the Temple.
Then he turns over the money changers tables and poured out their coins.
“Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”
And I can only imagine he didn’t ‘speak softly’ to them.
When it comes to right and wrong, you folks here at Trinity come down on the side of righteousness.
You give to the poor.
You look out for each other.
You welcome visitors.
You support your church with your generosity.
You want to make the world more peaceful and kind.
(No doubt, you do some wrong things too, but we’ll leave those for another day…..)
Just keep on doing what’s right—God smiles when you do….Shalom and Amen.
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