Praying for Change

Psalm 106:1-18 • Psalm 106:19-48
Num. 22:1-21 • Rom. 6:12-23 • Matt. 21:12-22

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey as a symbol of humility and peace. He then enters the temple and, after driving out all the buyers and sellers, turns over the tables of the money changers.

As I reflect on what Jesus says next, I imagine him standing in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church in DC, speaking directly to the unjust and misused powers of the government on that infamous day this month: “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a den of robbers.”  Jesus is clear on how he feels about the improper use of the church, be it for profit or a photo-op.

After such a splendid display of non-violent protest, Jesus went out of the city to Bethlehem to spend the night. He woke hungry the next morning, saw a fig tree by the side of the road but it had no fruit, just leaves. Jesus said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” and the tree withered. When the disciples asked him about he said,

“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive”

It was impossible for me to read his response without reading scripture a bit differently during these tumultuous times, so my reflection on his response is based on what I heard in my heart (and not so much on what the scholars say the tree represents): Jesus could have easily made figs appear on the branches of the fig tree and sated his hunger. Instead he completely changed the fig tree into a withering mess.

Today I will pray, not for my own needs or wants; today I will pray for change and the faith it takes to pray such a big and bold prayer for our world.

Written by Kathy McGregor

Kathy, a recent Iona graduate, is currently taking great comfort in rereading Walter Wink.