Daily Readings - Fri Nov 21 2025
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 journey through two significant moments in the history of God's people, each highlighting the importance of sacred spaces and the call to purity. The first reading from 1 Maccabees recounts the rededication of the Temple after its desecration by foreign rulers. The Maccabees, after overcoming oppression, restore the Temple to its sacred purpose, establishing the festival of Hanukkah to celebrate this miracle. This historical event underscores the Jewish people's resilience and their commitment to worshiping God in a purified sanctuary.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find Jesus performing a prophetic act by cleansing the Temple. He drives out those who have turned this sacred space into a marketplace, emphasizing that the Temple is meant for prayer. This act, occurring in the final week of His life, provokes the religious leaders, who begin to plot against Him. Yet, the people are drawn to His teaching, illustrating the tension between those clinging to power and those seeking true connection with God.
These readings connect through the theme of maintaining the sanctity of worship. Both events remind us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, requiring us to guard against corruption. Just as the Temple was a communal space, our spiritual lives are not solitary but part of a larger community. We are called to ensure our inner temples remain pure, focused on prayer and worship, and to stand against corruption in our hearts and communities.
May these readings inspire us to reflect on our own spiritual purity and our role within the community of faith. Let us strive to create sacred spaces within ourselves, where God's presence can dwell, guiding us to live with integrity and purpose.