“Stop making God’s house a marketplace!”
—John 2.16
On your way into the temple
the priest greets you kindly, then robs you—
overpowers you and steals your offering
and everything you could possibly give to God,
takes even the slightest reason for God to love you,
pickpockets all your prayers,
demands your deeds,
seizes your righteousness by sword,
wrestles from you even the shred of morality
that separates you from a serial killer,
strips you naked— and then says gently,
“Now, go offer all you have
to the one who loves you.”
—February 28, 2018