Today’s readings remind us that both the Temple and the Church are called to be houses of prayer. Today’s Gospel is often called the “Cleansing of the Temple.” In the first reading from Maccabees, we have the description of the cleansing of the Temple after it had been desecrated by the Greek King Antiochus. Judas and his brother said: “Let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” This day of dedication is a day of great joy for the Jews because “On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated.”
The Gospel description of the “Cleansing of the Temple” is little different. Jesus’ action is a prophetic action as he “drive[s] out those who were selling things.” He then quotes to them the words of the prophet Jeremiah: “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Jeremiah 7: 11; Isaiah 56:7). These words of Jeremiah come in the context of his great Temple Sermon. He warns the worshipers not to trust in this Temple building because worship without justice is worthless:
“Do not put your trust in these deceptive words: ‘The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!’ Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with your neighbor; if you no longer oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow after other gods to your own harm, only then will I let you continue to dwell in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors long ago and forever.’” (Jeremiah 7:4-7).
Jeremiah’s message is like the message of the prophet Micah:
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus preaches the same message as Jeremiah and Micah:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me… ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35-40).
Our prayer calls us to recognize God’s presence in all people but especially in the poor, the outcast, the immigrant.
Image: “Jewish Temple Painting” by zeevveez is licensed under CC BY 2.0.