Holy Vows, Holy House

The Lord who calls Jeremiah from the womb, who receives vows in the law, and who enters the temple with a scourge of cords is one and the same holy God. He does not accept a divided people. In Leviticus, what is vowed to God is not to be treated lightly or reclaimed with a cheap heart. In Jeremiah, the prophet is set apart before birth, then sent to pluck up and to plant by speaking the Lord’s own words. In John, the Word made flesh comes to a wedding with generosity, yet to the temple with zeal. He gives good wine, but He also judges false worship.

So let no one imagine that devotion is made of words only. A mouth may dedicate itself to God while the hands remain busy with trade, self-profit, and uncleanness. Christ overturns such bargaining. As Origen says, “...and He made a sort of scourge of cords, and cast them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen, and He poured out the small money of the changers and overthrew their tables...” If He so cleansed the house made with stones, how much more must His servants cleanse the inner house and the congregation’s common life.

Yet His holiness is not barren severity. The One who calls also appoints. Cyprian reminds us: “God praises Jeremiah, and announces, saying, Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you; and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5” Therefore do not say, I am too small, too weak, too late. Rather, keep your vow, receive Christ’s correction, and serve where He has set you, with clean hands and steadfast speech.