No room...

Ihave always been puzzled by one part of the Palm Sunday narrative.

After Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem and was acclaimed as “the one who has come in the name of the Lord,” he went into the temple and was confronted by a scene that unleashed feelings of righteous indignation. The outer court of the temple had been turned into a mini shopping mall.

On one side of the court were merchants selling the sacrificial animals, oil and meal the people used for their sacrifices. On the other side were the money changers, who exchanged Roman denarri for temple shekels; because all transactions conducted within the temple walls had to use temple currency.

On any other day, these people wouldn’t be there. But this was one of three annual Jewish festivals; and the rulers of the temple allowed them to set up shop in the outer court for the convenience of the worshippers– all for a percentage of the profits.

Strohschein

That made Jesus angry enough. But what angered him more was that there was no room in the temple for those who needed its services most.

On any other day, people who wanted to learn more about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or who wanted to discover how the Law of Moses applied to specific situations in their lives, could come to the temple and find what they were looking for. But on this day, there was no room for them.

On any other day, people who wanted to spend some quiet moments in prayer and meditation could come to the temple and find a place to do that. But on this day, there was no room for them.

On any other day, the blind, the lame and others like them could come into the outer court of the temple, join in the songs of praise and add their “Amens” to the prayers that were offered. But on this day, there was no room for them.

On any other day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God could go into the temple and help the people he met there find the hope, help and healing they desperately needed. But on this day, there was no room for the Son of God in his Father’s house.

So Jesus made room. He evicted the merchants and money changers from the temple property and welcomed those who needed his help. On this day, the outer court of the temple became the people’s court–the place where anyone could come and meet God.

The Jerusalem temple no longer exists. The Most High God no longer lives in a building of wood and stone made by human hands. Today, by His Spirit, he lives in the bodies of those who have turned from sin and put their faith in his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This weekend, we commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Is there room in our celebration for God, for those he loves and for those for whom he cares the most? Is there room for those who are hurting, those who are grieving, those who are lonely, those who are hungry or those who cannot afford a place to live or food to eat? They are God’s children too. Is there room for them in our lives?

On the day he died, Jesus let it be known, in no uncertain terms that there was room in his life and heart for us. I hope that, on this special weekend, we will make room for him.

A beneficial winter

Thank God that the weather doesn’t agree with what Malak Abas and others wrote or said about it on the front page of the WFP on Wed. March 29th. This year’s weather has been the most beneficial possible after the most disastrous winter weather on record in 2022 (especially for the whitetail deer population).

I repeat, in deference of Mr. Abas, this winter weather this year was the most beneficial immediately after the worst ever that was recorded.

I’m talking about the immigration of the white tail deer into Manitoba back in 1910 which us old timers mistakenly called “jumpers”. “Let’s all go jumper hunting today”, we used to say in the 1950’s and 60’s. Read what Herb Goldens, (a former biologist and past whitetail deer expert) wrote in his treatise or dissertation on the “history of white tail deer in Manitoba”. It will only take ten minutes of your time. He wrote this essay so people like Mr. Abas and others would love Manitoba for what it is, cold long winters, yet whitetail deer survived, thrived and flourished.

In closing, I know that in May and June of 2023 every whitetail doe in the Erickson area will have at least two fawns on average or more thanks to our good weather in this winter of 2022-23.

Sincerely,

Rudy Usick Erickson, MB

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