Call to Worship, Meditation written for Olivet Lutheran Church, Lent/Easter 1993.

Cleansing the Temple

There comes a time
When actions have to follow words,
Or words spoken in the past
Become empty, hollow—
Lies we’ve told ourselves.

When Jesus’ face was turned in anger
Against those who lived as though
God’s purpose was to fill their purses
At the cost of those who feared the Lord,
His teachings were presented in a new way,
A way that could not be misunderstood.

There comes a time
When the choices are real,
When there is no middle ground to stand on,
When we must turn and walk
On one road or the other.

Elizabeth Bennefeld
Lent 1993