1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
1 Chronicles 29:10BCD, 11ABC, 11D-12A, 12BCD
Luke 19:45-48
Summary
Today’s gospel can also be found in Mark 11:15-17,
Matthew 21:12-14 and, John 2:13-16. Mark told us that this hap-
pened during the holy week after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusa-
lem. Jesus went into the Temple, saw everything that was there, and
as it was already late he returned to Bethany, where he was staying
there. On the following day, Jesus went into the Temple and began
to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying: “He
overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those
who sold pigeons”.
He justified this action using a quotation from Isaiah that he com-
bined with a passage from Jeremiah: “My house shall be called a
house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it a den of
robbers” (Is 56:7, Jer 7:11).
Reflection
According to Mark’s own testimony, the fundamental purpose lies
behind the cleansing of the temple is to remove whatever obstacles
there may be to the common recognition and worship of God. This
Temple is Jesus’ body, the Risen One, who gathers the peoples and
unites them in the sacrament of his body and blood. Jesus himself is
the Temple of humanity. The crucifixion of Jesus is at the same time
the destruction of the old Temple. With his Resurrection, a new way