My house shall be a house of prayer

Gospel • luke 19:45-48 Jesus is dismayed at the way the Jews have turned the Temple in Jerusalem into a hub of commerce. The section reserved for Gentile crowds abounds with livestock for sacrifice and money changers. Jesus overturns the sellers’ tables and those of the money changers. The Temple, considered to be the house of God, has become a place of selfishness, corruption, and greed. It has ceased to be a point of contact between God and human beings. In coming to the Temple, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Is 56:7). With his bold and daring action of sweeping the merchants away, Jesus reclaims the Temple as his

heavenly Father’s house. He teaches in the Temple area for several number of days. We could imagine how many pilgrims listen to him at great length. On the other hand, Jesus’ critics hover around, hoping to find a case against him.

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Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.