32    The Bible and the Future of the World 

which can be done elsewhere, should be done outside of the sanctuary. As 

soon as possible, they should return to prayer. 

    Sometimes after Holy Mass a group of people will gather in the sanctuary, 

or in the sacristy, and chat or joke around. It is a sin to treat the sanctuary 

like a tavern (or a place to socialize), just as it is a sin to treat the sanctuary 

like a place of business. After Holy Mass every one should pray. Priests and 

nuns and monks should pray after Holy Mass. Do they not know and 

believe that they have received Jesus in Holy Communion just a few 

moments ago? It is amazing that so many who wear the cloth of the clergy 

or the religious life can act as if the Holy Mass were over and forgotten as 

soon as it is ended. 

    Some people say that Jesus objected to the selling in the temple because 

the sellers were dishonest, cheating the people by charging high prices. That 

is not the reason Jesus drove them out. If so, He would have driven out only 

those who were selling, not also the buyers. The Gospel of John also makes 

this clear,  And he told those who sold the pigeons, `Take these things 

away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade.'   (John 

2:16). 

    In all the descriptions of Jesus in the Gospels, we do not often hear about 

Jesus becoming angry. In the temple, he became so angry that he overturned 

tables and seats and drove people and animals out with a cord (John 2:13 

17). In future years, during times of great sin in the world, some churches 

will fall into  this sin which caused Jesus to become so angry. There is so 

much concern in the world about commerce that sometimes this excessive 

concern with buying and selling spills over into the churches. 

    The temple in this passage also represents the sabbath day, Sunday. Jesus 

is not only prohibiting buying and selling in the place of worship, but also on 

the day of worship. Spend Sunday and Holy Days in prayer and in rest from 

work, for this is God's will. 

Paying Taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:13 17) 

     And they came and said to him, `Teacher, we know that you are true, 

and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly 

teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we 

pay them, or should we not?' But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, 

`Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it.' And they 

brought one. And he said to them, `Whose likeness and inscription is this?' 

They said to him, `Caesar's.' Jesus said to them, `Render to Caesar the 

things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they 

were amazed at him.  (Mark 12:14 17).