Holy Monday (Second day of Holy Week) and the blessed words of Chris Cornell.
He is singer, lyricist, lead vocalist, drummer, sometimes guitarist, and front man/member of Audioslave, Soundgarden, and Temple of the Dog. Like many of his contemporaries, he claimed his Heavenly prize far too soon and by suicide.
As you listen to his poetic verses, you’ll discover a deep spiritual wrestling with what it means to live a faithful life while following his calling as a musician. At the end of this post is a video which will enhance your reflection– hearing the emotion in the lyrics is far more powerful than simply reading them.
Hunger Strike, by Temple of the Dog, leads us into reflection today– as we engage Jesus’ encounter at the temple in Jerusalem with money changers during Jewish Passover.
Temple: place of worship.
Dog: in Biblical narrative 1. beloved companion 2. unclean, scavengers, returning to their own vomit, eating crumbs that fall from the table, and licking sores 3. term used to describe sinful people.
Temple of the dog: a desecrated place of worship, kind of like the temple described in John 2: 13-16.
Jesus found in the temple those who were selling cattle sheep, and doves as well as those involved in exchanging currency sitting there. He made a whip from ropes and chased them all out of the temple, including the cattle and the sheep. He scattered the coins and overturned the tables of those who exchanged currency. He said to the dove sellers, “Get these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a place of business.”
Why was Jesus so mad? Money changers were fleecing the Jewish pilgrims for everything they had- and they were doing it in a sacred place. Or as the lyrics to Hunger Strike go- they were feeding on the powerless.
What selfish, power hungry, and money hungry people we humans can be…anything to make a buck and grow our egos. We can’t resist temptation and continue feeding this system. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. We see this at the individual level and at the societal level– where big businesses steamroll smaller ones. Child and slave labor keep the system flush with resources and we are destroying the earth in the process. And let’s not lose track of the fact that this whole world is sacred ground. Every place of business, supply chain, manufacturer- and consumer occupies space in this Divinely breathed world.
When our hearts are filled with Holy love and our cups are overflowing, we can’t help but turn that love outward to other people. We then might also gain awareness of how we show up in the Temple of the dog ourselves. As the song suggests, we can go hungry and participate in a metaphorical hunger strike. We can engage consumerism intentionally and conscientiously by supporting businesses that are careful with God’s beloveds. We might begin by doing small things like drinking fair trade coffee – and purchasing clothing manufactured in humane conditions.
Reader, there are tables that need tipping– are you brave enough to put your overflowing cup on the line for justice and mercy? Thanks be to God!
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadents
But I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeah
But it's on the table, the fire's cookin'
And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'
The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'
But I'm goin' hungry, yeah
Reflection inspired by Holy Monday and everyday table flipping and Hunger Strike.
Loving these Holy Week reflections with their invitation to hear from a different perspective!