He drove the moneychangers out of the temple...

They still need to be driven out. Here in Arizona our Voice of the Poor Committee working with AARP and Luke Air Force Base was successful in eliminating Pay Day loans who preyed on the elderly, the poor, and military families with huge out of sight interest rates.

Now this industry under a new guise, and backed by a powerfull lobby, with campaign donations to legislators, has a bill to create a FLEX loan industry which is just as bad, if not worse than Payday loans.

Laurie Roberts in the Arizona Republic wrote a column this week exposing this new affront to the poor.

The bill creating Flex loans passed the AZ House and now goes to the Senate. NOW is th time for people in Arizona to join our efforts to defeat this HB 2611.by not being indifferent, but proactive, just as Jesus was in the temple. Contact your legislator, and drive the money changers out.

The Gospel also tells us that "Jesus knew them all, and he did not need anyone to tell him about human nature. He himself knew it well." JN 2:25

Yes indeed. And human nature is a mix of the sublime and the perverse. Human nature has a thin veneer of civility, and yet a potential abyss of savagery.

Witness ISIS.

Christian children are being slaughtered and some crucified. Not since Hitler's ovens have such perversities been seen on the face of our earth.

So he least we can do is stand with them in prayer, and through Lenten Alms Giving do something extra for the poor and suffering people in our world.

Saturday, we had our annual fundraising dinner for the half way house for expelled migrants run by the KINO BORDER INITIATIVE.

I am happy to report that at last count, that dinner raised over $120,000 dollars for this worthy effot.

THANKS to so many who contributed. Despite so much bad news in our world, we can rejoice that generosity, kindness, and compassion are also a part of human nature and are able to confront savagery and degradation which is the darkest side of human nature.

And so we pray:

Divine Saviour you summoned up your male energy,

and you acted with directed energy in the temple.

You overturned the tables of the money changers.

Rouse us from indifference.

Arm us with a thirst for justice.

Our brothers and sisters in Syria share your crucifixion.

Move us to stand with them and all suffering people in prayer

and almsgiving.

Amen

 

 

 

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