¹² Then Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. ¹³ He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be called a house of prayer..^[c] But you’ve made it a hideout for crooks.” (Matt. 21:12-13, CEB)

Advent causes us to pause and reflect on the meaning of the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? We may get lulled into thinking it’s simply the practices we are into as a church because it is Advent season. We go about the routine.

Jesus comes into the temple to expose their “routine.” Advent is a good time (as is Lent) to examine our routines before Jesus comes in and does it for us!

While the temple had become a great “economic generator” (which is a nice way of saying “cash cow”), Jesus reminded them what it was supposed to be. Then, he not only told them what it was supposed to be, he showed them.

Too often it is easy to rail against the system. Blog all day long about how the “conservative” church isn’t getting it right… or how the “liberal” church isn’t getting it right… and then go on our self-righteous way.

Jesus didn’t just tell them what was wrong, he showed them what was right.

¹⁴ People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. (Matt. 22:14, CEB)

I had a conversation this past weekend that has electrified my thinking, and this passage has fed that thinking. The illustration was this: The church in America should be investing in “blue chips” but all we’re doing is investing in “junk bonds.” We are going for short term gains (numbers) at the expense of long-term results (the true power of the Kingdom).

Advent is a time to evaluate our “investing.” Are we looking at the wrong gauges to see if we are “doing well”? Or, are we truly delivering the Kingdom of God to this world?