THE ROBBERS’ DEN

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers" (Luke 19:45-46, NRSV).

THE ROBBERS’ DEN

When he came into the city,
Jesus showed he had no pity
in the temple, as he utilized his clout,
and with righteous indignation
at their flagrant desecration,
he began to drive the money changers out.

It is written in the pages
of the prophets of the ages,
Jesus told them, and it’s binding now as then,
that God’s house shall be for prayer.
That’s the reason it was there,
but the temple they had made a robbers den.


In the gross preoccupations
of so many congregations
with fund-raising since I can’t remember when,
what would be the Lord’s reaction?
Would he show dissatisfaction
and declare, “You’ve made my church a robbers’ den!”?

RSA