Children’s Rights and Jesus of Nazareth
by Fr Shay Cullen
Christ Driving the Money-changers from the Temple, Rembrandt, c.1626
Pushkin Museum, Moscow [Web Gallery of Art]
The man from Nazareth arrived in the big city and received a big welcome from his fans as they lined the streets and shouted hosannas and laid their cloaks on the ground like a red carpet and everyone was asking, “Who is this, a prophet from Nazareth?” “Yes,” others answered, “a great prophet from Galilee.”
The day after he arrived he went up to the temple. That was the most important and sacred place in the whole city and the world. He saw it as the holy house of God. It had been taken over by the vendors, merchants and the foreign currency traders. This is not unlike some churches and shrines today.
The Man from Nazareth was not pleased. In fact, he was very angry at what he saw going on there. Pandemonium broke out when he started turning over tables and chairs and driving out the traders and merchants. The money was scattered all over the place. Most likely the poor people went rushing about scrambling to pick it up. The pigeons for sale went flying away and animals were herded out. When the traders grabbed their stuff to carry it out, or thieves tried to get it, he stood in the way. He wouldn’t allow anyone to carry anything through the temple courtyards. Imagine the shouting and hullabaloo that resulted. The market was closed down, game over.
The security guards rushed over led by the authorities demanding an explanation. He quoted the Bible, “God said My temple will be called house of prayer for people of all nations but you have turned it into a hideout of thieves.” That is pretty strong language calling the thieves and those authorities, lawyers and leaders wanted to kill him there and then. They were likely getting big kickbacks from the traders for letting them set up shop in that holy place.
Full post on Preda website here.