SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

Memory and Recall

Scripture:  John 2:17, 22

When observant Jews made their annual pilgrimage to the temple every year, sometimes they needed animals for the sacrifice or needed to exchange Roman currency to pay alms. The Jews considered Roman currency idolatrous because they featured Roman gods, so to keep the temple free of sacrilegious alms, they changed it for Jewish currency. It was also normal for vendors to sell animals for sacrifice in the temple. In today’s scripture, the disciples remembered hearing “Zeal for your house will consume me,” found in Psalm 69:9. As they observed Jesus tearing down the temple, they recalled these words written years before their time.

            If the disciples had not remembered the scriptures as Jesus angrily knocked over the vendors’ tables and drove the animals out the temple, they may have dismissed Jesus’ actions as melodramatic. While changing money and the buying and selling of animals was commonplace, the disciple’s memory of the scriptures confirmed that making the temple a marketplace was irreverent. Some debate on why Jesus did not believe money-changers belonged in the temple, perhaps he wanted the temple to remain holy, or perhaps he didn’t feel as if alms were necessary to show reverence to God. Whatever the reason, for Jesus, exchanging, buying and selling in the temple was defamatory to God.

The University of Texas recently overturned affirmative action policies, dismissing such policies as outdates or downright discriminatory to certain groups. I remember when the University of Michigan, my alma mater, overturned their affirmative action policies in 2006. The argument against affirmative action cites “fairness” for all students, or, in other words, preferential treatment for students of color is in a way racist against white students. Since that decision the number of students of color enrolling into the university decreased dramatically. Using terms like “preferential treatment” in arguments against affirmative action colors the policy unfair and unnecessary, but when you think about the history of racism and discrimination, the years of disadvantages for people of color economically, politically and socially, affirmative action is very necessary. At this decision, the policy makers have forgotten the words and experiences of disadvantaged freedom fighters working to make things equal.

They did not remember the pain of enslavement and the decades following when the only jobs available to Blacks were field hands and housekeepers. They did not remember that Blacks did not have access to home ownership because policies systematically excluded them from buying homes. Most Americans hold their wealth in their homes, and Blacks missed out on two, three, and maybe four generations of wealth, wealth used to pay for a college education. Economic and social setbacks like these make affirmative action very necessary.

On the surface, preferential treatment may not look like equality for university admissions, but preferential treatment just levels the playing field for people of color. On the surface, buying and selling in the temple was necessary for paying alms and sacrificing, but examining history shows that sacrificing and paying alms was not needed to appease God.

We have to remember the words and actions of the generations before us to understand why we do things the way we do them. If the disciples did not understand Scripture, they would not have understood Jesus actions. 
Lent is the time for us to reflect on the life and work of Christ Jesus. Jesus was sent to interrupt the status quo, so real change can happen. As sojourners, freedom fighters, leaders and mentors, Jesus is the role model to follow to break down barriers and truly set the captives free.

I've a Message from the Lord (Look and Live)

I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!

The message unto you I’ll give;

’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!

It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain

Look and live, O sinner, live,

Look to Jesus now and live;

’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!

It is only that you look and live.

Refrain

I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah!

A message, O my friend for you;

’Tis a message from above, Hallelujah!

Jesus said it and I know ’tis true.

Refrain

Life is offered unto you, Hallelujah!

Eternal life your soul shall have,

If you only look to Him, Hallelujah!

Look to Jesus Who alone can save.

Refrain

I will tell you how I came, Hallelujah!

To Jesus, when He made me whole;

’Twas believing on His Name, Hallelujah!

I trusted and He saved my soul.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the words of wisdom that were spoken to us by our mothers and grandmothers, and thank you for giving us the recall when we witness their similar experiences in the present day. Give us the memory to do what is right, not what is popular or normal. Amen.

 Emma Akpan