Daily Readings - Fri Nov 24 2023
1 Maccabees
36Then Judas and his brothers said: "Behold, our enemies have been crushed. Let us go up now to cleanse and renew the holy places.37And all the army gathered together, and they ascended to Mount Zion52And they arose before the morning, on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, (which is the month of Kislev) in the one hundred and forty-eighth year53And they offered sacrifice, according to the law, on the new altar of holocausts that they made54According to the time and according to the day, on which the Gentiles had contaminated it, on the same day, it was renewed with canticles, and lutes, and lyres, and cymbals55And all the people fell upon their faces, and they adored, and they blessed, toward heaven, him that had prospered them56And they kept the dedication of the altar for eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation and praise57And they adorned the face of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields. And they dedicated the gates and the adjoining chambers, and they set up doors on them58And there was very great rejoicing among the people, and the disgrace of the Gentiles was averted59And Judas, and his brothers, and all the assembly of Israel decreed that the day of the dedication of the altar must be kept in its time, from year to year, for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev, with joy and gladness
Luke
45And entering into the temple, he began to cast out those who sold in it, and those who bought46saying to them: "It is written: ‘My house is a house of prayer.’ But you have made it into a den of robbers.47And he was teaching in the temple daily. And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy him48But they could not find what to do to him. For all the people were listening to him attentively
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives of purification and rededication, both in the Temple of Jerusalem and in the hearts of God’s people. The first reading from 1 Maccabees recounts the rededication of the Temple after its desecration by foreign rulers. Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, with great faith and courage, restore the Temple to its sacred purpose, ensuring that the worship of God is renewed. This event, celebrated as Hanukkah, reminds us of the enduring importance of preserving the sanctity of God’s dwelling place among His people.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus taking bold action in the Temple, driving out those who had turned it into a marketplace. By quoting Scripture, Jesus emphasizes that the Temple is meant to be a house of prayer, not a place for profit or corruption. This act of cleansing is not just about physical space but about the spiritual renewal of God’s people. Both readings highlight the need to purify and rededicate ourselves to God’s will, ensuring that our hearts and lives are free from distractions that pull us away from Him.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we might apply this call to purification in our own lives. Just as the Temple needed to be cleansed and rededicated, we too must examine our hearts and lives to remove anything that distracts us from prayer, worship, and living as God’s people. Let us strive to create a sacred space within ourselves, where God can dwell and guide us. May we, like Judas and Jesus, have the courage to renew our commitment to God, dedicating ourselves to His service and living with joy and fidelity.