“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” Matthew 21:12
“But who, exactly, are the people who buy and sell? Are they not precisely the good people? See! The merchants are those who only guard against mortal sins. They strive to be good people who do their good deeds to the glory of God, such as fasting, watching, praying, and the like – all of which are good – and yet do these things so that God will give them something in exchange. Their efforts are contingent upon God doing something they ardently want to have done.
They are all merchants. They want to exchange one thing for another and to trade with our Lord. But they will be cheated out of their bargain – for what they have or have attained is actually given to them by God. Lest we forget, we do what we do only by the help of God, and so God is never obligated to us…What we are we are because of God, and whatever we have we receive from God and not by our own contriving…He gives to us freely.
People are very foolish when they want to trade with God. They know little or nothing of the truth. And God will strike them and drive them out of the temple…When He enters the temple, He drives out ignorance, and darkness and reveals Himself in light and truth. Then, when the truth is known, merchants must depart – for truth wants no merchandising…As long as we look for some kind of pay for what we do, as long as we want to get something from God in some kind of exchange, we are like the merchants.”
Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-1327) in “Merchandising Truth” in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent (Walden: Plough, 2003) 108-109.
If we fast, pray, and give during Lent (or any time during the year) for the wrong reasons, we are like the merchants. We are doing it only to get a return, which is for the wrong reason, and we too will be driven away. He gives to us freely, so likewise, our generosity must be given freely. Eckhart was spot on in his conclusion: “As long as we look for some kind of pay for what we do, as long as we want to get something from God in some kind of exchange, we are like the merchants.”
Father in heaven, help us not give like the merchants, who merchandise the truth and expect a return. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us give like Jesus who freely, richly, and sacrificially gave. Amen.