Price Gouging - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Sermons from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

When Jesus gets angry, it's because someone is getting in the way of someone else experiencing God's love. In the case of the temple, the people that are there, are selling oxen and livestock and things like that which are meant for sacrifice according to the commandments, and that's part of how people atone, and keep their relationship with God. And the people who are there selling those things and exchanging money, it's clear that they're doing something, most likely price gouging. They're praying on the people's need for confession and absolution and they're profiting from that. And instead of helping people connect with God, they're actually getting in the way of people's connection with God. And friends, our goal as Christians always is to help people connect with the God who loves them. Our goal is to love and to help others to love and be loved.