Holy Monday

The Fire In His Eyes

DAY TWO: HOLY MONDAY

The Fire in His Eyes:

Righteous Anger and the Disruption of Systems

Today we look at the event of Jesus turning over tables in the temple. As we discussed on the live event last night on Patreon, this is the day on which Jesus seals his fate. These are the actions that His enemies will view as both dangerous and threatening to the social and hierarchical structure.

Jesus enters the temple and sees it profaned—commerce replacing reverence. Greed dominates faith. With fierce grace, with holy rage, He throws over the tables.

To many, this act is confusing, confounding. This is not the expected action of the Prince of Peace.

Magdalene, as a witness to this event, understands that love does not always whisper. Sometimes it roars, but that ferocity can create fear in others. And whereas she understands and supports His reasons and actions, she also knows he is putting himself in harm's way.

Whereas the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was a risk, essentially a declaration of stepping into his role as Messiah and leader of the people, the events at the temple were deemed acts of violence and vandalism. The social order and the financial order were under threat, and that would not be tolerated.

This is the beginning of the unraveling. The point of no return.

Magdalene Speaks
I have seen Him heal with those same hands.
Hands that lifted the dead, touched the blind.
But today, He overturned the tables.
Not from wrath—but from Love.
The kind of Love that refuses to look away from injustice. Love for the people who were being exploited, Love for people who had their faith used against them
I watched as the coins scattered and the doves flew.
And I knew:
This, too, was holy. It was right and righteous.

But I feared for him now more than ever.

Discussion Questions and Journal Prompts

· • When have you witnessed sacred anger that called forth change? Have you ever felt this type of anger? If so, why?

· • How can we discern when anger is rooted in love rather than ego?

· • What “tables” might need (metaphorical!) overturning in your own life or community?

• Would history look different if Jesus had not overturned the tables that day? If you could go back in time would you warn him not to do it?

Sacred Prompt:
Meditate for a few minutes on your own inner temple. What have you allowed to dwell there that does not serve your highest path? What would it feel like to lovingly cleanse it?

Closing Mantra:
May I rise in fierce Love, and stand where Truth demands

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