Day 7: March 2

Readings:

And they came into Jerusalem; and having entered into the temple, Jesus began to cast out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and would not let anyone carry a vessel through the temple. And He taught, saying to them, Is it not written, My house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a cave of robbers. And the scribes and the chief priests heard, and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, for all the crowd wondered over His teaching. (Mark 11:15-18)

“Those that sold and bought” here signify those who make gain for themselves out of holy things...They made the temple “a den of thieves,” “thieves” meaning those who pillage the truths and goods of the church, and thus make to themselves gain. (Apocalypse Explained 840:4)

In the Word according to the appearance, that Jehovah or the Lord is angry, punishes, condemns, casts into hell; when yet it is those who are in evil who do this to themselves, and thereby bring upon themselves the evil of punishment; for in the other life the evil of punishment and the evil of guilt are conjoined. (Arcana Coelestia 7344)

Reflection:

When we do evil, the truth can feel hurtful and condemning. The Lord uses the truth to separate the evil from the good. Do you want to choose to identify with the evil or with the good?

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