Temple Money Changers. . .

(Temple Money Changers. . .)

This would be more a story for Easter but since this is the other end of the Story, now is just as appropriate as any time. Towards the end of His Ministry, Jesus was in Jerusalem, along with thousands of other Jews, celebrating Passover, where the Israelites were delivered from Egypt. One of the things that Jesus encountered was that the Temple, the Holiest site in all Judaism, but it was also being used as a open air market. Pilgrims would need to make sacrifices and suitable animals were being offered. There was also a currency exchange where legal tender was made so that transactions could be effected. Now, a proper commemoration of Passover for Jews who believe would need to include sacrificial animals and currency exchange. The problem Jesus had was such activities would be better on a used car lot. Not the Temple itself. To show his dis-pleasure, the soon to be Risen Christ, over-turned the tables and aroused the ire of local authorities. So began the March to Cavalry.

Who passes for Temple Money Changers today ? There has been a fair amount of fiduciary malfeasance over the last couple of days. Clearly, the FTX collapse and the one who caused it, Sam Bankman Fried. He was arrested in the Bahamas and is free on a $250 million bond. That would buy a lot of beer. Another table set up would be manned by Senate Republicans. One more could be President Biden holding full court press on how great his stewardship of the economy has been.

At first, the story could be compelling. Young kid makes a killing in crypto, and realizes he never had any operations' manual. But before he figured things out, he had already made several disbursements, including the highest calling, donating millions to Democrats. Fried thought he had lofty goals and intended to use his great wealth for "good." At least according to Fried's definition. But, FTX proved more sizzle than steak and by the time the house of cards came crashing down and people had lost probably un-coverable millions, and Bankman-Fried is set for incarceration for life.

There is no end to what can be said about the $1.7 trillion and the Republicans that made it happen. If there is a table that Jesus would find most objectionable, it could have been this one. Who is Judas ? Mitch McConnell ? How many non-Republican things can one do and still be considered Republican ? Jesus had his own flock. McConnell, among other Republicans, had flocks of their own. Those are called the voters, who now will be getting more inflation because those who ostensibly represent them can't know better.

The last table that Jesus over-turned, at least as far as this Story might be told, look at President Biden selling snake oil and saying how good the economy is, because he is President. In the tag team of the day, the Bad Congress table is walking over that omnibus for Biden's signature.

So, here we are, at the point when the "greatest Story ever told" was more than just a movie.