Lenten Resources 

John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Holy One, Saving God of Passover and Refining Fire of Lent, Great Tipper of scales and Turner of tables, Divine Architect of our bodies and Dreamer of justice, hear our prayer:

We wonder at the power and intensity of Jesus’ confrontation with the authorities of the temple, the courage of a single voice for justice rising amid the busy marketplace of profit, the passion and zeal for the purity of your sanctuary.

We too would drive out the moneychangers and profiteers from the temples of our bodies, those who would alter your delicate balance of life-giving systems. We too would confront those who cling to the tradition of established practice, blinded to the new suffering it creates. We too would offer the hope of a new vision of purity through justice for all your children.

We cannot do this in a single day. We cannot to this with a simple whip of cords. We cannot do this alone. We ask that you bind us together in this common purpose. Breathe into us to your Spirit of compassion and courage; inspire us again with your zealous love.

Let us be among those disciples who remember these actions of Jesus and believe in your word and your promise, that even as our bodies are weak and will come again to dust, our strength and our hope lie in you, always and forever. Amen.

Formatted as a double-sided bulletin insert, this PDF resource invites individuals to consider taking a small step to conserve energy, reduce carbon output, and learn more about environmental justice in each of the 40 days of Lent.

• Approximately 300 million palm fronds are consumed in the United States annually.
• Eco-Palms are selectively harvested with less waste.
  

• Eco-palms are purchased directly from harvesters at 5 to 6 times the normal payment per frond.

• Your purchase of eco-palms helps improve standards of living and protect forests.